Maternal depressive symptomology, parenting practices, motherhood experiences, and mother-reported children's emotion regulation: A multi-method study in the context of psychological intimate partner violence

Date

2025-7

Author

Öztemür, Gizem

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This study aimed to quantitatively investigate the associations among psychological intimate partner violence perpetration and victimization, mothers’ depressive symptomology, willingness to serve as a secure base, negative parenting practices, and children’s emotion regulation during middle childhood. It also aimed to assess motherhood experiences qualitatively, providing a context for interpreting quantitative findings and informing interventions that support children’s emotional adjustment in homes where psychological intimate partner violence occurs. Consequently, this study employed a multi-method research approach to achieve these aims. Quantitative data were collected from 358 mothers of children aged 8 to 12 years. Mothers completed a demographic information form and the psychological aggression subscale of the Conflict Tactics Scale-Revised (CTS-R). They reported their children’s ER using the Emotion Regulation Checklist (ERC). The depression subscale of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) measured the mothers' depressive symptoms. The secure bond between the child and mother was evaluated using the Mother’s Willingness to Serve as a Secure Base Scale (MWSSBS). Negative parenting practices were assessed with the Multidimensional Assessment of Parenting Practices Scale (MAPS). Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 13 mothers who participated in the quantitative study to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences of motherhood. Path analysis indicated that psychological IPV perpetration was associated with children’s emotion regulation through the mother’s willingness to serve as a secure base and negative parenting practices. Qualitative results revealed three overarching themes: personal, relational, and social dynamics of motherhood. Implications of the study’s findings for the counseling field were discussed.

Subject Keywords

Emotion regulation, Psychological intimate partner violence, Depressive symptomology, Parenting, Motherhood

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/115408

Collections

Graduate School of Social Sciences, Thesis