MATERNAL ATTACHMENT, EMOTION-REGULATION, AND COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING OF INSTITUTIONALIZED CHILDREN IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

The present study investigated the relationship between maternal attachment (i.e. trust, communication, and alienation) and cognitive functioning among the institutionalized children in Malaysia; and the mediating role of emotion-regulation on the relationships. A sample of 262 institutionalized children aged 7 to 12 was recruited via PPS sampling across Malaysia to answer the IPPA-R for Children, the Raven’s CPM and the ERICA. Data were analysed using PLS-SEM in SmartPLS 3.0 software. Results revealed that alienation was positively correlated to cognitive functioning, whereas, insignificant relationship was found for trust and communication; and emotion-regulation was correlated to alienation and cognitive functioning. Findings suggested that alienation is a contributor of healthier cognitive functioning among the institutionalized children in Malaysia. Furthermore, the findings showed that a consequential role of emotion-regulation in influencing the association between alienation and cognitive functioning. In other word, children in the institutions are influenced through the efforts of modulate emotional arousal in order to aid better cognitive performance