Maternal mindfulness and preschool children's social skills in China: the role of parenting stress and authoritative parenting behaviors

The aim of present study was to explore the possible mediating roles of parenting stress and authoritative parenting style in the relations between maternal mindfulness and children's social skills among Chinese preschool children. Participants were N = 294 mothers (M-age =34.14 years; SD = 3.79; Range = 25-48 years) and 24 preschool teachers. Upon obtaining consent, mothers completed self-report measures of their dispositional mindfulness, parenting stress and authoritative parenting style. Teachers evaluated each child's social skills. Among the results, maternal mindfulness was positively associated with children's social skills. Moreover, bootstrapping revealed a significant indirect effect of maternal mindfulness on children's social skills via parenting stress and authoritative parenting style. Specifically, maternal mindfulness was related to a low level of parenting stress, which in turn, predicted more authoritative parenting style, and lower level of children's social skills. This study sheds light on the role of parenting stress and authoritative parenting style in the relationship between maternal mindfulness and children's social skills.

Automated summary

This study explores the mediating roles of parenting stress and authoritative parenting style in the relationship between maternal mindfulness and children's social skills among Chinese preschool children.