Meta-Parenting: An Initial Investigation into a New Parental Social Cognition Construct |
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| Abstract: | Objective. This article introduces the construct of meta-parenting, provides preliminary reliability information for a new instrument designed to measure the construct, and presents results from an initial empirical investigation. Design. One hundred and sixteen U.S. mothers participated. Maternal, child, and contextual characteristics were investigated as likely predictors of meta-parenting. In addition, meta-parenting was examined as a predictor of 3 parenting behaviors. Results. Five factors were extracted from the Meta-Parenting Profile Questionnaire with adequate internal consistency and test–retest reliability. Mothers reported that meta-parenting is a frequent occurrence in their daily lives. Mothers of younger children reported more assessing and anticipating and had higher total meta-parenting scores. Mothers of fewer children reported engaging in more problem solving. Mothers of boys anticipated more than mothers of girls. Higher levels of life stress were associated with more reflection. Mothers who engaged in more problem solving reported lower levels of overreactivity and laxness, but mothers who reported higher levels of reflecting were also high on overreactivity. Conclusions. Mothers commonly engage in multiple components of meta-parenting that are influenced by maternal, child, and contextual factors and are related to reported childrearing behaviors. |
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