Relationship Between Mothers' Attitudes Toward Supporting Psychosocial Development and the Psychosocial Development Levels of Children Aged 12-36 Months: A Descriptive Study in the Correlational Survey Model

Objective: This descriptive study aimed to examine the relationship between mothers' attitudes toward supporting psychosocial development and the psychosocial development levels of children aged 12-36 months. Material and Methods: Conducted in a pediatric hospital in Türkiye, this study employed a descriptive design based on the correlational survey model. The sample consisted of 280 mothers of hospitalized children aged 12-36 months. Data were collected using a Sociodemographic Information Form, the 0-6 Years Psychosocial Development Period Attitude Scale, and the 12-36 Months Psychosocial Development Scale for Children. Descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation tests were used for data analysis. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test confirmed that the data met the normality assumption (p>0.05). Results: The mothers' mean score on the attitude scale was 39.73 (SD=3.03). Significant associations were found between attitude scores and variables such as employment status, education level, number of children, economic status, primary caregiver, and knowledge about child development. Child-related factors, including age, gender, maternal education, family structure, and economic status, were also significantly related to the subdimensions of the psychosocial development scale. Correlation analyses revealed weak but statistically significant relationships between the two scales and their subdimensions. Conclusion: The findings indicate that maternal attitudes toward supporting psychosocial development are associated with children's psychosocial competencies. These results emphasize the importance of balanced parenting approaches that foster both autonomy and emotional regulation during early childhood. The results are particularly relevant for hospitalized children and highlight the need for maternal education programs in clinical settings.