Children's Play and Leisure Engagements: The Effect of Maternal Traumatic Events

Maternal practices and their exposure to traumatic events might impede children's psychological adjustment; however, family relations, play, and leisure engagement may mitigate it. Previous research that has focused on the mechanisms influencing children's psychological adjustment has not included contextual factors such as family relations and children's engagement in play. In a sample of mothers with and without a history of trauma, this study aimed to examine the impact of maternal practices on children's psychological adjustment and to test their indirect effect through family relations and child engagement in play and leisure activities. A cross-sectional study comprised a sample of 99 mother-child dyads with children aged 6 to 12 years old, predominantly Caucasian, and mothers with college-level education. Self-report measures assessed parental acceptance-rejection, the impact of maternal exposure to traumatic events, family relations, child psychological adjustment, and play. Children of mothers who reported exposure to traumatic events had significantly more psychosocial difficulties. A moderated mediated model tested whether family relations and child play engagement effects varied based on maternal exposure to traumatic events. The model was significant and both direct and indirect effects were supported. Maternal rejection predicted children's psychological maladjustment and this relation was mediated by children's engagement in play for mothers with a trauma history. These findings point to the importance of play and leisure activities within and outside the family context during the middle childhood period. Engagement in play was related to greater psychosocial functioning for children whose mothers reported traumatic events exposure impacted their lives.Family relations did not mitigate the relationship between maternal practices and children's psychosocial adjustment.Children's engagement in play and leisure activities may act as a protective factor.