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The Perception of the Effects of Spoiling

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The Perception of the Effects of Spoiling THE PERCEPTION OF THE EFFECTS OF SPOILING HELD BY MOTHERS OF INFANTS SIX MONTHS AND YOUNGER by Dorit Radnai-Griffin A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the University of Delaware in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Human Development and Family Studies Summer 2006 Copyright © 2006 Dorit Radnai-Griffin All Rights Reserved UMI Number: 1435808 Copyright 2006 by Radnai-Griffin, Dorit All rights reserved. UMI Microform 1435808 Copyright 2006 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1346 THE PERCEPTION OF THE EFFECTS OF SPOILING HELD BY MOTHERS OF INFANTS SIX MONTHS AND YOUNGER by Dorit Radnai-Griffin Approved: __________________________________________________________ Martha Buell, Ph.D. Professor in charge of thesis on behalf of the Advisory Committee Approved: __________________________________________________________ Penny Deiner, Ph.D. Chair of the Department of Individual and Family Studies Approved: __________________________________________________________ Timothy K. Barnekov, Ph.D. Dean of the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy Approved: __________________________________________________________ Conrado M. Gempesaw II, Ph.D. Vice Provost for Academic and International Programs ACKNOWLEDGMENTS There are many individuals who have supported me throughout this adventurous process. First and foremost, I would like to thank my advisor, my mentor, Dr. Martha Buell for her patience, dedication, guidance, encouragement, and commitment to my research interests, professional development, and personal growth. No words can describe the gratitude that I feel for all the time she was willing to spare just to hear my concerns. Thanks are also extended to my committee, Dr. Penny Deiner and Dr. Bahira Sherif-Trask for all their support and encouragement, which have helped me grow and develop both professionally and personally. I would like to thank Dr. Donald Unger for his suggestions and help with recruiting participants. I would like to thank Anna Scovell not only for her great help in recruiting participants, but also for being inspirational and positive throughout the entire process. I would also like to thank Kendra and Kevin Waninger because without their help I would not have had enough participants. Thanks are also extended to each member of the IFST Department who was supportive along the way and especially to the administrative staff for their support and great spirit. I would like to thank Heidi Beck for her support, understanding, and kindness. To the staff at New Direction Early Head Start, especially Kelli Tyler, I would like to thank you for all of your ongoing support, concern, and interest. iii I would like to thank all my great friends at the Department of Individual and Family Studies because without their support and humor, completing this project would have been much more difficult. I would especially like to thank Wei Qui, Laura Thomson Brady, Jean Marie St. Clair-Christman, Dawn Volpe, Christina Kaissi, Ilka Riddle, Brigid Carbo, Erin Walker, Teresa Holland, Carol Bernard, and Tara Woolfolk for their special friendships. I would also thank my special friend and mentor, Dr. Ling Chuan Chu, who has believed in me and supported me over the years. She has been a great role model and an inspiration not only in my academic work, but also in my personal life. I would like to thank my parents, Eti and Israel, my sister, Yael, and brother, Yiftach, who supported and believed in me everyday from across the ocean with their endless love and care. I would especially like to thank my father who pushed me to complete this project and continue my journey, as difficult as it may be. And finally, I would like to thank my husband, Nick, and my son, Yuval. Without their endless support, patience, unconditional love, care, understanding, and forgiveness, I certainly would not be where I am today. Thank you all for letting me be who I am. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................ix ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................xi CHAPTER I INTODUCTION................................................................................................. 1 II REVIEW OF LITERATURE............................................................................. 4 Spoiling - What Does it Mean? .................................................................... 4 The Concept of Spoiling over the Last Century (Historical Review) .......... 5 The Concept of Spoiling in Empirical Research ........................................ 11 Gaps in the Literature ................................................................................. 17 The Impact of Infant's Sex on Parental Perceptions and Beliefs................ 19 Theoretical Frameworks............................................................................. 22 Piaget's Cognitive Development Theory............................................ 23 Bowlby and Ainsworth's Attachment Theory .................................... 26 Conclusion.................................................................................................. 30 Hypotheses ................................................................................................. 30 v III METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................... 32 Research Design, Measure and Rational.................................................... 32 Instrument................................................................................................... 32 Specific Instrument Format ................................................................ 33 Validity and Reliability .............................................................................. 36 Sample, Collection Procedures and Protection of Human Subjects........... 37 New Direction Early Head Start (NDEHS)........................................ 38 Parents as Teachers (PAT) ................................................................ 38 Data Management....................................................................................... 40 IV RESULTS......................................................................................................... 42 Demographic Analyses............................................................................... 42 Hypothesis 1 ............................................................................................... 45 Hypothesis 2 ............................................................................................... 46 Mother's Race Analysis ...................................................................... 46 Mother's Age Analysis ...................................................................... 47 Mother's Annual Income Analysis .................................................... 48 Mother's Education Analysis............................................................. 50 Do Mothers Have Other Children? ................................................... 52 Spoilers versus Non-Spoilers: Would it Make a Difference? ........... 53 Descriptor Analysis (Positive and Negative) .................................... 56 Conclusion......................................................................................... 58 vi Hypothesis 3 ............................................................................................... 58 Mother's Race Analysis ..................................................................... 59 Mother's Age Analysis ...................................................................... 60 Mother's Annual Income Analysis .................................................... 61 Mother's Education Analysis............................................................. 62 Do Mothers Have Other Children? ................................................... 63 Happy Spoilers versus Believers: Would it Make a Difference?...... 64 Descriptor Analysis (Positive and Negative) .................................... 66 Conclusion......................................................................................... 68 Hypothesis 4 ................................................................................................ 68 Does the Sex of the Baby Matter?...................................................... 71 Descriptor Analysis (Positive and Negative) .................................... 74 Conclusion......................................................................................... 76 Summary..................................................................................................... 77 V DISCUSSION................................................................................................... 78 Limitations.................................................................................................. 82 Future Directions for Research................................................................... 84 Concluding Comments ............................................................................... 86 REFERENCS ................................................................................................... 88 APPENDIX A - Parents' Opinion Survey .......................................................
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