The quality of caregiver-child interactions influences child, parent, and family wellness. Although the existing body of literature links mindfulness to positive outcomes within the family, little is known about how specific dimensions of mindful parenting are associated with parenting practices or child behavior reactivity. Based on a mindful parenting model and differential susceptibility model, this quantitative study used an online survey method to examine how specific dimensions of mindful parenting are associated with parenting practices and child behavior reactivity among a sample of 152 parents of elementary-age children. This study also explored how parent life stress modifies the relationship between mindful parenting dimensions and parenting practices and child reactivity. A model estimation was calculated using least squares regression-based path analysis to test the strength and direction of the association between the 5 dimensions of mindfulness and child behavioral reactivity through mediation and moderated mediation models. Results revealed that the mindful parenting dimensions of acceptance and attention had significant positive associations with child behavior reactivity. Emotional awareness and attention were mediated by positive parenting; however, no moderated mediation of any dimension of mindfulness and child behavior reactivity was found. The results from this study may be used to promote positive social change by helping service providers develop effective parenting programs and properly identify parents who might benefit from mindfulness interventions and stress reduction techniques.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

En dépit des efforts déployés pour diminuer la prévalence de la maltraitance à l’enfance, celle-ci serait associée à des difficultés non négligeables, dont la manifestation d’agression. La réactivité émotionnelle et comportementale, incluant la colère, la peur et l’évitement, est proposée comme mécanisme expliquant la relation unissant la maltraitance à l’agression. Quatre objectifs sont poursuivis à cette fin, soit d’examiner la relation notée entre: (1) la maltraitance et l’agression, (2) la maltraitance et la colère, la peur, ainsi que l’évitement, (3) la colère, la peur, ainsi que l’évitement et l’agression et (4) tester formellement le rôle médiateur et modérateur de la colère, la peur et l’évitement à cette relation. Les données de 160 hommes âgés de 18 à 35 ans ayant été exposés ou non à de la maltraitance ont été colligées par le biais de questionnaires et d’une tâche de provocation sociale permettant de mesurer les expressions faciales de colère et de peur, ainsi que les comportements d’évitement. Les résultats suggèrent que la maltraitance et les comportements d’évitement sont associés à l’agression. La maltraitance ne serait toutefois pas liée à la colère, à la peur et à l’évitement. Alors que les résultats suggèrent que ces indices n’aient pas de rôles médiateurs dans la relation entre la maltraitance et l’agression, la réactivité aux plans de la colère et de l’évitement magnifierait cette relation. Ainsi, les résultats invitent à prendre en compte les expériences de maltraitance et l’intensité de la réactivité émotionnelle et comportementale dans les interventions afin de cibler les individus plus à risque d’avoir recours à l’agression. / Despite efforts to reduce the prevalence of childhood maltreatment, it is known to be associated with a variety of physical and mental health difficulties, including the manifestation of aggression. Emotional and behavioral reactivity, including anger, fear and avoidance, is proposed as a mechanism to explain the relationship uniting maltreatment and aggression. Four objectives are pursued to this end: to examine the relationship found between (1) maltreatment and aggression, (2) maltreatment and anger, fear and avoidance, (3) anger, fear and avoidance and aggression and (4) to formally test the mediator and moderator role of anger, fear and avoidance in this relationship. Data from 160 men aged between 18 and 35 and who were exposed or unexposed to maltreatment were compiled through questionnaires and a social provocation task measuring the facial expressions of anger and fear as well as avoidance behaviors. Results suggest that maltreatment experiences and avoidance behaviors are associated with aggression. Maltreatment experiences are however not linked to anger, fear and avoidance. While the results suggest that these indicators have no mediator roles in the relationship between maltreatment and aggression, responsiveness to anger and avoidance would magnify this relationship. Thus, results suggest that maltreatment experiences and the intensity of emotional and behavioral reactivity should be taken into account in interventions in order to target those most at risk of using aggression.