The impact of maternal work-family conflict on problem behaviors among preschoolers during the COVID-19 epidemic: A moderated mediation model of maternal anxiety and trait mindfulness

Abstract

Abstract Background: Work-family conflict (WFC) can increase maternal anxiety and the risk of children’s problem behaviors, but maternal trait mindfulness level moderates this association during the COVID-19 epidemic. While most studies during the epidemic investigated the relationship between WFC and maternal anxiety in developed countries, no studies were found to examine this association in China. Besides, the mediating effects of maternal anxiety and moderating effects of trait mindfulness on the relationship between WFC and preschool children’s problem behaviors are still unclear. So, this study examined the association between mothers’ WFC and preschoolers’ problem behaviors and identified the roles of maternal anxiety as a mediator and trait mindfulness as a moderator during the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a sample of 1068 Chinese preschoolers and their mothers from coastal cities in southern China were investigated. Data were collected using demographic questionnaires, Carlson’s WFC scale, Ma’s Parenting Anxiety Scale, Goodman’s SDQ Scale, and Brown and Ryan’s Trait Mindfulness Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and Process 3.3. Results: WFC had a positive and direct association with problem behaviors in preschoolers (β=0.118, t-value=3.880, p<0.001). WFC also had a positive and direct association with maternal anxiety (β=0.480, t-value=18.034, p<0.001). And maternal anxiety had a positive and direct association with preschoolers’ problem behaviors (β=0.415, t-value=13.584, p<0.001). The mediating effect value of maternal anxiety between WFC and preschoolers’ problem behaviors was 0.199, and the moderating effect value of trait mindfulness between maternal anxiety and preschoolers’ problem behaviors was -0.078. Conclusions: WFC can be positively associated with preschoolers’ problem behaviors, and maternal anxiety is an important mediator of this association. So, WFC can cause maternal anxiety and lead to more problematic behaviors in children. Therefore, relevant departments should pay attention to this problem and adopt practical strategies to help mothers cope with high levels of work-family conflict, so as to alleviate maternal anxiety and reduce the preschoolers’ problem behaviors. Besides, Maternal anxiety can be positively associated with preschoolers’ problem behaviors, and trait mindfulness is an important moderator of this association. Because trait mindfulness can alleviate the negative effects of maternal anxiety on children, mothers should attend more mindfulness training courses to try to improve their mindfulness level.