Parenting Knowledge of Urban Chinese Postpartum Women: The Role of Spousal Support and Women’s Affective Well-Being

Shanshan He, Yihua Chen School of Social Development, East China Normal University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yihua Chen, School of Social Development, No. 500 Dongchuan Road, East China Normal University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: The purpose of this study was to examine parenting knowledge’s perceived level, sources, and predictors among urban Chinese postpartum women, including sociodemographic and psychosocial factors.Methods: Survey data was collected from 498 postpartum women who just gave birth within one year in Shanghai, China. Participants completed the Perceived Parenting Knowledge Questionnaire, the Postpartum Social Support Questionnaire (PSSQ), and the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) and provided sociodemographic information. Descriptive analysis, independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, and causal steps approach were the main statistical analysis methods used in this study.Results: The results showed that Chinese urban new mothers perceived having a medium–high level of parenting knowledge for caring for infants, especially for baby vaccination and breastfeeding. Mothers with longer years of marriage, better education, whose baby was not the firstborn, having a healthy baby, and owning Shanghai household registration reported higher perceived parenting knowledge scores. APPs, books, and social media usage (eg, WeChat) have become the most addressed sources of obtaining parenting knowledge besides family members. Mothers’ negative affect is negatively related to parenting knowledge. Relationship between spousal support and mothers’ parenting knowledge is mediated by positive affect.Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of education and spousal support in enhancing parenting knowledge among urban Chinese postpartum women. Targeted interventions should focus on improving emotional well-being and leveraging diverse information sources to support new mothers effectively.Keywords: parenting knowledge, urban Chinese postpartum women, spousal support, affective well-being, positive affect