Exploring the Mother-Child Interaction With Respect to Marital Satisfaction and Type of Family

India is not only known for its rich cultural heritage but also for its close knit family structures all over the world. This strong community sense is rooted so deeply in the Indian philosophy that it advocates ‘vasudhaiva kutumbakam’- the idea that the entire universe is a family. Undoubtedly, family plays a significant role in scaffolding the growth and holistic development of a child. But globalization has a different story to tell. The wave of technology and modernization has brought about a complete change in the family dynamics. Today, children are raised in a global village which is technologically smarter yet relationally fragmented. The present study attempts to explore the world of a growing child with reference to his/her familial background. 101 mothers of children below the age of 5-years from rural and urban belt and belonging to joint and nuclear families structures participated in the study. Their level of marital satisfaction was assessed using the self-translated version of Golombok Rust Inventory of marital state (GRIMS) and Mother-child interaction was explored employing the self-translated version of Pianta’s Child-Parent relationship scale. It was observed that the mother’s level of marital satisfaction along with the type of family one hails from significantly predicted the mother-child interaction. Apparently, while considering marital satisfaction, the residential conditions, mother’s nutritional status and offences by the intimate partner appear to have a key role to play. Thus it may be concluded that the role of family in a child’s development cannot be taken lightly at any cost. The growing disparity among the rich and poor as well as the rising rates of divorces are certainly bothering. The violent relationships between couples in a country like India already struggling to cope with malnutrition is an insult to injury. If left unchecked, they are sure to take a heavy toll over the entire nation.