Study On Structure And Current Situation Of0-3Infant Mother’s Maternal Sensitivity

In most of families in China, as the primary caregiver, the mother who is with the infant for the longest time, exerts the greatest impact on infant development. The sensitivity of the mother in tending activities provides a basis for mother’s normal tending function, which also work as premise for the parent-child interaction. Therefore, the maternal sensitivity is a topic has always been concerned by the researchers of the child psychology.A large number of related studies have concluded in various aspects that maternal sensitivity is an important factor which affects physical and mental development of children since the1960s. Therefore, understanding the importance of maternal sensitivity is not only conducive to the healthy development of the infants, but also beneficial to parent-child relationship. In this study, we use the0-3year-old infant mother’s maternal sensitivity as the main subject; aim to reveal the structure and development status of mother’s maternal sensitivity for0-3year-old infant.The study tries to provide a theoretical basis for the cultivation of appropriate maternal sensitivity and building of the good parent-child relationship.Maternal sensitivity which put forward by Tao Sha et al was chosen as the operational definition in this study. First, we established an open-ended questionnaire according to the operational definition, and then established an initial test questionnaire which is consistent with the information collected from historical research literature and open-ended questionnaire; Secondly, we use the initial test questionnaire data to conducted item analysis and exploratory factor analysis to formed the formal questionnaire of mother’s maternal sensitivity for the0-3-year-old baby; Finally, we tested the reliability and validity of the formal questionnaire. Statistical analysis showed that, the mother’s maternal sensitivity for0-3-year-old baby includes four latitudes:the sensitive of accompanied needs, the sensitive of physiological needs, the sensitive of autonomy needs, the sensitive of accepted needs. The questionnaire has a good reliability and validity, and can be used as a self-assessment tool of0-3-year-old baby mother’s maternal sensitivity.We conducted preliminary analysis to the0-3-year-old infant mother’s maternal sensitivity questionnaire; most of the mothers have higher scores on the total score of the questionnaire. This indicates that most of the infant mothers can acutely realize the baby’s various needs and respond appropriately, which provides a basis for the physical and mental development of infants. Maternal sensitivity shows significant differences in maternal education, maternal type and the age of the children. No significant differences of Maternal sensitivity was found in maternal age, gender of their children and the children’s type.