Parental cognitive reappraisal and parenting practices in Hong Kong families with preschoolers: Mindful parenting as a mediator

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Abstract

Objectives: This longitudinal study examined the mediating role of mindful parenting in the relations between parental cognitive reappraisal and parenting practices such as physical coercion, psychological control, and parental warmth.

Method: A total of 170 mothers (Mage = 35.63; SD = 4.91) and 164 fathers (Mage = 39.95; SD = 6.27) of preschoolers from 175 Hong Kong Chinese families participated in this study. Initially, mothers and fathers completed self-report questionnaires assessing their cognitive reappraisal. Six months later, both parents reported on their mindful parenting and parenting practices. Spousal reports of physical coercion and psychological control were also collected. Structural equation modeling was conducted separately for mothers and fathers to examine the mediation models. 

Results: Mindful parenting mediated the associations between parental cognitive reappraisal and parenting practices in both mothers and fathers. Specifically, initial parental cognitive reappraisal had a positive effect on mindful parenting 6 months later, which in turn was negatively related to physical coercion and psychological control, and positively related to parental warmth. For mothers only, initial parental cognitive reappraisal had a positive effect on parental warmth 6 months later, after accounting for the mediating role of mindful parenting. 

Conclusions: The study highlighted how mindful parenting connects parental cognitive reappraisal and parenting practices for both mothers and fathers with children in preschool years. The findings provide valuable information for professionals and intervention programs to incorporate mindful parenting approaches with emotion regulation strategies to promote appropriate parenting practices. 

Preregistration: This study is not preregistered. Copyright © 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)491-504
JournalMindfulness
Volume15
Early online dateOct 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2024

Citation

Wu, X.-Y., Tao, S., & Lau, E. Y. H. (2023). Parental cognitive reappraisal and parenting practices in Hong Kong families with preschoolers: Mindful parenting as a mediator. Mindfulness, 15, 491-504. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-023-02245-x

Keywords

  • Cognitive reappraisal
  • Mindful parenting
  • Physical coercion
  • Psychological control
  • Parental warmth
  • PG student publication

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