engleski

Do happier mothers raise happier children?

The aim of this study was to explore relationships between parents and children wellbeing indicators. The research was conducted on 43 boys and 29 girls (N=72). Age ranged from 9 to 12 (M=10.2, SD=0.82). Mothers of all children (N=72) and 62 fathers also participated in the research. This study is the part of a comprehensive project on the well-being of children in family context (CHILD-WELL), funded by the Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ-IP-2019-04-6198). The participation in the study was anonymous and voluntary, and children received symbolic gifts. Data for this study were collected during the pilot research. The children filled out questionnaires in school during regular classes, and parents filled out questionnaires at their homes. Using special code-system, parents’ and children’ questionnaires were matched later. As measures of well-being for both children and their parents we assessed: overall happiness, general life satisfaction, and experienced positive and negative affect. Child happiness was associated with mother’s happiness (r=0.245, p<0.05), and child’s life satisfaction was associated with mother’s negative affect (r=-0.235, p<0.05). While most of mother’s and father’s well-being indicators were correlated, no association between father’s and child’s wellbeing indicators were found. Well-being levels among parents are related, but only mother's well-being is associated with child's well-being. Happier mothers have happier children, while mothers who experience less negative affect have children more satisfied with their lives.

Happiness ; Well-being ; Children ; Parents ; CHILD-WELL

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