The effects of parental mindfulness on preschoolers’ prosocial behavior: the chain mediating model of marital quality, authoritative parenting, and the sex difference

Abstract

Family system factors have been consistently linked to children’s prosocial behavior. However, the mechanisms underlying these associations remain unclear. Drawing on family system theory, attachment theory, and social learning theory, the present study examined the associations between parental mindfulness and preschoolers’ prosocial behavior, as well as the mediating roles of marital quality and authoritative parenting, using data from 754 Chinese parents of preschool children. Results indicated that parental mindfulness was positively associated with marital quality, authoritative parenting, and preschoolers’ prosocial behavior. In addition, parental mindfulness was indirectly associated with prosocial behavior through marital quality and authoritative parenting, both independently and sequentially. Multigroup comparison revealed all paths were significant in the boy group. However, in the girl group, only the independent mediating effect of authoritative parenting and the chain mediation effect of marital quality and authoritative parenting were significant. Notably, the effect size was larger in the girl group for both the independent mediating path of authoritative parenting and the chain mediation path of marital quality and authoritative parenting. Overall, these findings clarify the relational and parenting processes linking parental mindfulness with preschoolers’ prosocial behavior.