The impact of maternal mindful parenting on preschoolers' emotional regulation abilities: The mediating role of depression and the moderating role of the parent-child relationship

Purpose: An examination into the effects of maternal variables on children's emotional regulation abilities, as well as the processes that underlie these effects, may improve our ability to effectively promote the development of children's emotional regulation ability. This study looks at how maternal depression influences the relationship between mindful parenting and children's emotional regulation ability. It also investigates the potential moderating effects of the parent-child relationship. The study centers on a group of Chinese families with preschoolers.

Methods: A cohort of 556 mothers with preschoolers completed surveys to examine maternal mindful parenting, depression, parent-child relationships, and their children's emotional regulation ability. The inquiry attempted to understand the complex dynamics between the variables under consideration using moderated mediation analysis.

Results: The findings revealed that higher levels of closeness in the parent-child relationship attenuated the link between maternal mindful parenting and maternal depressive symptoms. Conversely, parent-child relationships with less conflict intensified the connections between maternal mindful parenting and both maternal depression and the emotional regulation ability of preschoolers.

Conclusion: These findings enhance comprehension regarding the interconnectedness of maternal mindful parenting and preschoolers' emotional regulation ability within the Chinese cultural and familial milieu.