[Influencing factors of responsive caregiving among infant mothers in Weifang City].

OBJECTIVE

To describe the current status of responsive caregiving behavior of infant mothers, to analyze their influencing factors and pathways using the information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model, and to provide a basis for further interventions related to responsive caregiving behaviors and comprehensive promotion of early childhood development.

METHODS

This study was a cross-sectional survey using convenience sampling. Questionnaires were used to collect basic information about mothers and their infants, as well as data on mothers' responsive caregiving behavior, knowledge of responsive caregiving, social support, and parenting self-efficacy. Multivariate linear regression models were employed to analyze the influencing factors of responsive caregiving behavior, and structural equation modeling was used to analyze the pathways of these influencing factors. The criterion for inadequate responsive caregiving is defined as scores not exceeding the lower quartile (P25) of the total score.

RESULTS

Among 510 mothers of aged 0-12 months infants in Weifang City, the average score for responsive caregiving behavior was 16.41±3.99. The proportion of inadequate responsive caregiving was 25.7%. Mothers in the insufficient responsive caregiving group had lower scores in knowledge (7.70±1.41), social support (57.92±15.16), and parenting self-efficacy (30.36±6.48) compared with those in the sufficient group, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis indicated that the influencing factors for responsive caregiving included the level of know-ledge about responsive parenting [adjusted OR (aOR)=0.795, 95%CI: 0.566-0.838], social support (aOR=0.979, 95%CI: 0.961-0.996), and parenting self-efficacy (aOR=0.894, 95%CI: 0.857-0.932). Structural equation modeling revealed that knowledge of responsive caregiving (β=0.089, P=0.031), social support (β=0.153, P=0.001), and parenting self-efficacy (β=0.296, P < 0.001) were directly related to responsive caregiving behavior. Additionally, knowledge of responsive caregiving indirectly affected responsive caregiving behavior through parenting self-efficacy (β=0.095, P=0.014), and social support indirectly affected responsive caregiving behavior through parenting self-efficacy (β=0.497, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The current level of responsive caregiving behavior among mothers of 0-1-year-old infants in Weifang City is not satisfactory. Future development of responsive caregiving interventions should focus on providing caregivers with relevant knowledge of responsive caregiving based on their needs. Additionally, it is essential to offer social support from multiple aspects to enhance caregivers' parenting self-efficacy, thereby promoting improvements in responsive caregiving behavior.