Associations between Perceived Maternal Acceptance-Rejection and Social and Emotional Competence of Preschool Children

This study analysed the associations between preschoolers' perceived maternal acceptance-rejection and their social and emotional competence. Participants were 90 Portuguese children (55.6% boys) aged 54-82 months and their parents. Children completed the Early Childhood Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (Mothers' Short Form) and parents reported the children's social and emotional skills using the Social Skills Rating System and the Emotion Regulation Checklist. Significant correlations between perceived maternal acceptance-rejection and children's age and mothers' education were found. Older children reported higher maternal rejection and children with lower educated mothers perceived less maternal warmth/affection. Moreover, hierarchical regression analysis showed that after controlling for children's age and mothers' education, maternal rejection contributes independently to children's social skills, with children who perceive more maternal rejection showing fewer social skills. The findings suggest that families should be supported with more knowledge about the importance of expressing daily warmth to children in early childhood.