Maternal scaffolding in a disadvantaged global context: The influence of working memory and cognitive capacities.

The current study focuses on maternal cognitive capacities as determinants of parenting in a highly disadvantaged global context, where children ’s experiences at home are often the 1st and only opportunity for learning and intellectual growth. In a large sample of 1,291 biological mothers of preschool-aged children in rural Pakistan, we examined the unique association of maternal working memory skills (independent of related cognitive cap acities) with cognitively stimulating parenting behaviors. Path analysis revealed that directly assessed working memory, short-term memory, and verbal intelligence independently predicted greater levels of observed maternal scaffolding behaviors. Mothers from poorer families demonstrated lower level s of working memory, short-term memory, and verbal intelligence. However, mothers’ participation in an early childhood parenting intervention that ended 2 years prior to this study contributed to greater levels of working memory skills and verbal intelligence. Further, all 3 domains of maternal co gnitive capacity mediated the effect of family economic resources on maternal scaffolding, and verbal intelligence also mediated the effect of early parenting intervention exposure on maternal scaffolding. The study demonstrates the unique relevance of maternal working memory for scaffolding behavio rs that required continuously monitoring the child’s engagement, providing assistance, and minimizing external distractions. These results highlight ...
Source: Journal of Family Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Source Type: research