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The Impact of Mothers’ Perceived Unsupportive Intergenerational Co-Parenting on Children’s Social Competence: Evidence from China

Author

Listed:
  • Xinpei Xu

    (Shanghai Institute of Early Childhood Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China)

  • Lihong Song

    (Shanghai Institute of Early Childhood Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China)

  • Xiaoyun Li

    (Shanghai Institute of Early Childhood Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China)

  • Yan Li

    (Shanghai Institute of Early Childhood Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China)

Abstract

This study examined whether parenting styles mediated the relationship between unsupportive intergenerational co-parenting and children’s social competence, and whether the first stage of the mediating process, as well as the direct association between unsupportive intergenerational co-parenting and children’s social competence, was moderated by maternal psychological flexibility. The theoretical model was tested using data collected from 412 mothers of children aged 3–6 years at four kindergartens in Shanghai, China. The results showed that: (1) unsupportive intergenerational co-parenting was negatively associated with children’s social competence through decreased maternal authoritative parenting and increased authoritarian parenting and (2) the first stage of the mediation mechanism was moderated by maternal psychological flexibility. Specifically, unsupportive intergenerational co-parenting was significantly associated with authoritative and authoritarian parenting for mothers with low and high psychological flexibility, respectively, and the magnitude of the association was higher for mothers with low psychological flexibility. These findings extend the understanding of how and when unsupportive intergenerational co-parenting impacts children’s social competence.

Suggested Citation

  • Xinpei Xu & Lihong Song & Xiaoyun Li & Yan Li, 2022. "The Impact of Mothers’ Perceived Unsupportive Intergenerational Co-Parenting on Children’s Social Competence: Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2022:i:1:p:427-:d:1016379
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xia, Xiaoying, 2020. "Parenting style and Chinese children’s school readiness outcomes: The moderating role of socioeconomic status," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    2. Li, Xiaowei & Liu, Qianqian, 2020. "Parent–grandparent coparenting relationship, marital conflict and parent–child relationship in Chinese parent–grandparent coparenting families," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    3. Natasha Pilkauskas & Melissa Martinson, 2014. "Three-generation family households in early childhood: Comparisons between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 30(60), pages 1639-1652.
    4. Luo, Yuhan & Qi, Mengdi & Huntsinger, Carol S. & Zhang, Qin & Xuan, Xin & Wang, Yun, 2020. "Grandparent involvement and preschoolers’ social adjustment in Chinese three-generation families: Examining moderating and mediating effects," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
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