Recollecting past painful experiences and interpersonal relationships during the period of bringing up children: Focusing on the object relations

Abstract

Effects of problems in relationships between mothers and painful experiences in past interpersonal relationships and their recollections on present relationships with other mothers were examined in mothers who are rearing children. An online survey was conducted with mothers (N = 300) with children. The participants were classified into the following groups depending on scores on the object relations subscales and analyzed: Interpersonal seeking/self-centered group, Interpersonal avoidance/anxiety group, Balanced group, and Ambivalent group. The results indicated that Interpersonal seeking/self-centered group, Interpersonal avoidance/anxiety group, and Ambivalent groups recollected past hurtful experiences when they had problems in relationships with other mothers. Furthermore, recollection of past hurtful experiences affected defensive attitudes in fellow-mam relationships in the Ambivalent group, whereas problems in relationships between mothers and past hurtful experiences directly affected defensive attitudes of the Balanced group, without any mediation by recollections.