Development of the caregiver: intergenerational influences on parental bonding and behaviour

© 2014 Dr. Jacqueline Anne MacdonaldThis thesis aimed to identify preconception predictors of the parent-to-infant bond. Drawing on data from two intergenerational cohort studies, the quality of mothers' and fathers' parent and peer relationships during adolescence were prospectively examined as predictors of their subsequent felt connection to their own children. The first sample were 287 mothers who had participated since age 14 years in a 10-wave longitudinal study and who completed self-reported data on maternal bonding and parenting of their infant. The second sample were 114 Generation 2 parents (81 mothers) who had participated along with their Generation 1 parents in a 30-year, 15-wave longitudinal study, and were now involved in a Generation 3 study. As hypothesised, in a series of hierarchical regressions, using data from the first sample, maternal overprotection during adolescence was positively associated with difficulties with maternal bonding; paternal care was negatively associated with bonding difficulties; and, maternal care was found to moderate the effect of postnatal depression on bonding difficulties. Using data from the second sample, path analyses were used to test a series of models predicting parental bonding and warm parenting. Peer communication and parent trust during adolescence were found to be significant predictors of both indicators of caregiving. The combined studies showed that parents' relationships with their own mothers, fathers and peers, from early to late adolescence, differentially predicted the quality of the parental bond and warm parenting with offspring aged 12-36 months. The findings are discussed within the context of the caregiving behavioural system as described within attachment theory. In particular, it is suggested that parental bonding is influenced by the qualities of multiple relationships during adolescence and prior to conception of the next generation infant. These findings suggest that family and peer relationship interventions during adolescence may have preventative implications for next generation parent-infant relationship difficulties. They may therefore contribute to a solution to break intergenerational cycles of psychosocial problems