THE IMPACT OF EARLY INSTITUTIONALIZATION AND NEGLECT ON EMOTION REGULATION IN MOTHERHOOD: EXAMINING LONG-TERM EFFECTS ON WOMEN'S MATERNAL ROLES

Childhood neglect and institutionalization are known to adversely affect emotional, cognitive, and social development.This study examines whether these early experiences influence emotion regulation and facial expression recognition in women transitioning to motherhood, both critical aspects of parenting.The sample included 44 women, 14 institutionalized mothers with young children, and 30 non-institutionalized participants.Participants completed an emotion regulation task using Ekman's facial expression photographs, a working memory distraction task, and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ).Data collection was conducted online due to COVID-19, with analysis via one-way ANOVA showing no significant differences between the groups in emotion regulation or facial expression recognition.These findings suggest that early institutionalization and neglect may not directly impair emotion regulation relevant to motherhood.However, the study's small sample size, reliance on self-report measures, and limited ecological validity of tools likely constrained the results.Future research should address these limitations by using larger, diverse samples and exploring additional factors like attachment styles and parenting practices.While findings were inconclusive, the study underscores the importance of early interventions targeting emotion regulation and resilience in individuals exposed to neglect.Clinical and systemic efforts can mitigate the long-term effects of early adversity, supporting healthier outcomes for affected individuals and their children.