Systematic review of the differences between mothers and fathers in parenting styles and practices

Assessing the association between parents' math talk and children's math performance: A preregistered meta-analysis

The home math environment has gained considerable attention as a potential cause of variation in children's math performance, and recent research has suggested positive associations between parents' math talk and children's mathematical performance. However, the extent to which associations reflect robust causal effects is difficult to test. In a preregistered meta-analysis, we assess the association between parents' math talk and children's math performance. Our initial search identified 24,291 potential articles. After screening, we identified 22 studies that were included in analyses (k = 280 effect sizes, n = 35,917 participants). A multilevel random effects meta-analysis was employed, finding that parents' math talk is significantly associated with children's math performance (b = 0.10, SE = 0.03, p = .002). We tested whether associations differ as a function of sample characteristics, observation context, observation length, type of math talk and math performance measured, and modeling approaches to math talk variable analysis. In addition, we tested whether associations are robust to the inclusion of strong baseline covariates and found that effects attenuated when children's domain-general and/or prior math abilities are included. We discuss plausible bounds of the effects of parents' math talk on children's mathematical performance to inform power analyses and experimental work on the impact of parents' math language on children's math learning.

Parental verbal communication and modeling behavior during mealtimes shape offspring eating behavior - a systematic review with a focus on clinical implications for eating disorders

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this review is to provide an overview of parental communication patterns during mealtimes, with a special emphasis being placed on the differences between families with and without a history of eating disorders.

METHODS

The systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA statement. A systematic literature search was carried out in PubMed, PubPsych and PsycINFO and the results were assessed for eligibility by two independent raters using the PICOS criteria. Only studies that included a mealtime observation were considered suitable for analysis of both explicit and implicit parental communication.

RESULTS

The results of the review suggest that mothers communicate more, with more complexity, and with a greater variety of words with their children during mealtimes compared to fathers. The intention and type of communication is diverse and heterogeneous. In general, parents often tried to encourage their children to eat. Verbal modeling and co-eating appeared to be common behaviors. Mothers with a history of eating disorders expressed more negative emotions during eating than mothers without eating disorders. Findings regarding the use of positive comments and controlling speech are contradicting.

DISCUSSION

The review outlines major fields of parent-child communication and modeling behavior around family meals which might be relevant to investigate and integrate into models of intergenerational transmission of eating behavior and disordered eating.

Parent-Child Associations in Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour: The FAMIPASS Study

Parent-child patterns in objectively measured movement behaviours were the highlight of this study. A total of 381 families (337 mothers, 256 fathers, 190 daughters, and 191 sons) from 36 randomly selected schools and kindergartens provided valid accelerometer data. Sedentary behaviour and physical activity (PA) were assessed using ActiGraph accelerometers. Spearman's rho was used to evaluate parent-child associations, while logistic regression analysis (the backward LR method) was used to recognize factors related to children's achievement of PA recommendations. Results indicated that girls engaged more in light PA, while boys showed higher levels of moderate and vigorous PA. Mothers spent less time sitting and more time in light PA compared to fathers, resulting in higher total PA levels. Father-son pairs showed a stronger association in total PA than mother-son pairs. Children aged 6-10 years and those with mothers who engaged in more vigorous PA were more likely to meet PA recommendations compared to younger children and those with less active mothers.

Within-family associations of parent-adolescent relationship quality and adolescent affective well-being

BACKGROUND

Parent-adolescent relationship quality is theorized to be an important correlate of adolescent affective well-being. Little is known about the within-family processes underlying parent-adolescent relationship quality and affective well-being over a period of months. This three-wave, preregistered study examined within- and between-family associations between parent-adolescent relationship quality (support and conflict) and adolescent well-being (negative and positive affect). In addition, we examined whether the associations differed between mothers and fathers, and for adolescents' affective well-being in different social contexts (at home, at school, with peers).

METHODS

The sample consisted of 244 Dutch adolescents (61.5% girls; age range: 12-17 years; mean age = 13.8 years). Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models were used.

RESULTS

At the between-family level, higher levels of support and lower levels of conflict were associated with higher levels of positive affect and lower levels of negative affect. At the within-family level, increases in support and decreases in conflict were concurrently associated with increases in positive affect and decreases in negative affect. More parent-adolescent conflict than typical also predicted increases in negative affect, 3 months later, and more negative affect and less positive affect than typical predicted increased conflict, 3 months later. These within-family effects were largely similar for fathers and mothers. Associations for conflict occurred through bidirectional processes: Parent-adolescent conflict shaped and was shaped by adolescents' emotions at home, at school, and with peers.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest that parent-adolescent relationship quality (especially conflict) and adolescent affective well-being cofluctuate and predict each other over time within families.

Maternal Emotional and Behavioral Regulation/Dysregulation and Parenting Practices: A Systematic Review

Emotional and behavioral regulations are crucial for the development of perceptive, responsive, and flexible parenting. Moreover, maternal emotional dysregulation constitutes a risk for maltreatment behaviors. The present study aimed to conduct a systematic review of empirical studies on the associations between mothers' emotional and behavioral regulations and parenting practices with their children or adolescents. A systematic review was conducted, including papers that addressed these variables, analyzing the direct effects, and moderation or mediation effects of maternal emotional and behavioral regulation on parenting practices, targeting child and adolescent samples. We identified 35 studies for analysis. Most of the studies (86%) showed significant associations between maternal emotional and behavioral regulation and parenting practices. Mothers' emotional dysregulation was related to a high risk of maltreatment and negative parenting, such as unsupportive reactions and harsh discipline. High maternal emotional dysregulation and negative parenting, in turn, were associated with children's aggressive behaviors. Conversely, when mothers exhibited high emotional regulation, they engaged in more positive and supportive parenting. Additionally, maternal behavioral regulation with inhibitory control and effortful control led to supportive and warm parenting. Individual and contextual factors, such as maternal victimization history and symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity, had effects on maternal emotional dysregulation, which, in turn, impacted their parenting practices. Consequently, emotional and behavioral regulation played a crucial role in mothers' parenting practices with their children and adolescents. The findings of the current review could contribute to planning parenting interventions, including maternal emotional and behavioral regulation skills, aimed at preventing maltreatment of their children.

Accelerometer-measured sleep behaviour and parent-child sleep guideline adherence and sleep quality in Czech families with children aged 3-8 years: the FAMIly Physical Activity, Sedentary behaviour and Sleep (FAMIPASS) study

Assessing parent-child relationship in sleep behaviours is important for facilitating changes in the sleep guideline compliance in preschool age children. The aim of this study was to examine accelerometer-measured sleep quantity and quality in families with children aged 3-8 years and investigate the parents' influence on the child's sleep. The data were obtained from the Czech cross-sectional FAMIly Physical Activity, Sedentary behaviour and Sleep (FAMIPASS) study, with a final sample of 374 families. Families were recruited through the enrolment of their children in kindergartens/primary schools between March 2022 and May 2023. The sleep time window and total sleep time were assessed using a wrist-worn ActiGraph accelerometer. Participants wore this device continuously for 24 h/day over a period of 7 consecutive days. Demographic data and potential correlates were obtained via questionnaires completed by parents. Statistical analyses were completed using logistic regression and independent-samples Mann-Whitney U test. In all, 65.5% of children (60% boys, 70.9% girls) and 58.3% of parents (52.4% fathers, 64.3% mothers) achieved the recommended sleep duration. Greater sleep quantity and duration in good-quality sleep were significantly higher in girls/mothers, compared to boys/fathers. Preschoolers were more likely to comply with sleep guidelines if their mother (but not father) met the sleep recommendation and their mothers did not have a higher education level. Adhering to sleep guidelines in children was also associated with children's female gender, absence of screen device in the bedroom, and being more active. Given the high concurrence in mother-child sleep quantity, it is important to promote healthy sleep behaviours in the whole family.

Parental psychological control and children's self-esteem: A longitudinal investigation in children with and without oppositional defiant problems

Oppositional defiant problems are among the most prevalent psychological problems among children and adolescents from China and across the world. Still little is understood about how self-esteem, in conjunction with parenting experiences, develops in children with oppositional defiant problems. We addressed this gap of knowledge in a two-year longitudinal study. Specifically, we explored how parental psychological control predicts children's self-esteem levels over time, and in turn, how children's self-esteem levels predict parental psychological control. We collected data in Chinese children (ages 8 to 13 at T1) with (N = 224) and without (N = 217) oppositional defiant problems, and tested three-wave cross-lagged panel models. Multigroup analyses showed that the associations between parental psychological control and children's self-esteem were the same for children with and without oppositional defiant problems. Results for the total sample revealed bi-directional associations between maternal psychological control and children's self-esteem. Children who perceived more psychological control from their mothers were likely to exhibit lower self-esteem over time, and vice versa, children with lower self-esteem were likely to perceive more maternal psychological control over time. Conversely, a unidirectional paternal effect was observed in father-child dyads. Our findings help understand the parent-child dynamics that shape the psychological development of children with oppositional defiant problems.

The dynamic nature of parenting practices: a qualitative enquiry of parenting adolescents during COVID-19

Introduction

Parenting practices are known to be dynamic, evolving in response to various factors such as societal changes, cultural norms, and individual circumstances. Understanding the dynamic nature of parenting is essential for comprehending its influence on children's development. This study aimed to explore the adaptive nature of parenting practices amidst the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, a global event that provided a unique context for examining these dynamics.

Methods

In-depth semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with six heterogeneous couples who were parenting at least one adolescent during the pandemic. Attride-Sterling's thematic network analysis was employed to analyze the interview data.

Results

Five global themes emerged from the data, namely, change in parenting style due to stressors, paternal versus maternal style of parenting, intergenerational transmission of parenting practices, child-centric parenting practices, positive parenting practices and evolving parent-child relationship during COVID-19.

Discussion

The findings highlight the tendency of parents to adapt their parenting styles to meet the evolving needs of their children. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for supporting families during times of crisis. Future research should explore the long-term effects of these changes and effective strategies for promoting positive parent-child relationships.

Adolescent responses to paternal verbal aggression: Assessing spillover and compensatory processes using random intercept cross-lagged panel models

INTRODUCTION

Prior research suggests several pathways through which verbal aggression manifests across adolescent relationship contexts, including spillover (continuity of aggression across different relationships) and compensation (offsetting an aggressive relationship with less aggression in other relationships). These pathways vary across timescales in ways that between-person analytic approaches are unlikely to adequately capture. The current study used random intercept cross-lagged panel modeling (RI-CLPM) to examine adolescents' spillover and compensatory responses to paternal verbal aggression.

METHODS

Participants were 184 adolescents (53.2% female) from a United States community sample participating in a longitudinal study. Annually from ages 13-17, participants reported on their experiences of verbal aggression in their paternal and maternal relationships and participated in observed interactions with a close peer that were coded for aggressive behavior.

RESULTS

Spillover was observed from father-adolescent to mother-adolescent and adolescent-peer contexts in analyses at the between-person level, likely capturing long-term, cumulative effects of paternal aggression. Conversely, compensation was observed in analyses at the within-person level, likely capturing medium-term (i.e., year-to-year) adaptations to paternal aggression: Adolescents who experienced more aggression from their father than expected at a specific time point were less likely to both perpetrate and experience aggression in maternal and peer relationships the following year. Several findings differed across teen gender, with compensation more likely to occur in males than females.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the multiple pathways by which father-adolescent aggression may be linked to behavior in other relationships in the medium- and long-term. They also support the value of RI-CLPM in decomposing these effects.

Early Parenting Interactions and First-Time Mothers' Postnatal Depression and Parental Competence

Objectives: Schema Therapy, an approach that integrates cognitive-behavioural and attachment principles, helps us understand the impact of early interactions with caregivers on adult mental health. These early interactions can be assessed through Schema Therapy-informed tools; however, these tools have yet to be used with a postnatal population, which represents a period of vulnerability for new mothers. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the impact of positive and negative early parenting interactions on a first-time mother's mental health and her sense of competence during the postnatal period, using recently revised and newly developed Schema Therapy-informed tools. Design: This is a cross-sectional study. Method: First-time mothers (N = 220) participated in an online survey within 12 months post-birth. Participants completed the Positive Parenting Schema Inventory (PPSI), Young Parenting Inventory-Revised (YPI-R2), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and Parenting Sense of Competence (PSOC) scale. The data were analysed using hierarchical multiple regression and mediational analysis. Results: Negative early interactions with mothers and fathers led to greater postnatal depressive symptomology, while positive early interactions with mothers led to fewer postnatal depressive symptoms. Mediation analyses revealed that postnatal depressive symptoms mediated early parenting interactions and participants' sense of parenting competence as a new mother. Conclusions: The protective effects of positive early interactions with caregivers can help first-time mothers' postnatal emotional adjustment and their sense of competence through diminished postnatal depressive symptoms. However, the enduring effects of negative early interactions with caregivers can contribute to a first-time mother's risk of developing postnatal depression and negatively affect her sense of parental competence.

How Coparenting Is Linked to Depression among Chinese Young Girls and Boys: Evidence from a Network Analysis

This study aimed to explore the relationship between parental coparenting and depression among Chinese young adolescents and potential gender differences via network analysis. Thus, 793 fourth-grade students (girls: 281 (35.40%), Mage = 9.99 years, SD = 0.59 years) were recruited from three primary schools in Northern China. The young adolescents rated their depression and perceived paternal and maternal coparenting. Network analysis was used to detect the central nodes and bridge mechanisms among coparenting and depressive components. The results indicated that paternal and maternal consistency as well as maternal conflict were the most central components in the coparenting-depression network. Paternal consistency, maternal conflict and paternal disparagement in coparenting, as well as somatic complaints and positive affect in adolescents' depression, exhibited high bridge strengths, suggesting those constructs served as vital bridges to connect the two subnetworks. Moreover, paternal consistency showed a higher bridge strength in the boys' network than the girls' one, whereas the edge linking adolescents' positive affect to paternal disparagement and integrity was stronger in the girls' network. This study contributes to the understanding of associations between parental coparenting and young adolescents' depression and offered insights into targeted interventions for early adolescent depression by enhancing parental coparenting.

The Asymmetric Effects of the Transitions Into and out of Bullying Victimization on Depressive Symptoms: The Protective Role of Parental Education

PURPOSE

This study aims to examine the association between bullying victimization and depressive symptoms among youth from multicultural families in Korea, while distinguishing between the effects of entering and exiting bullying victimization. This study also investigates whether parental education moderates this association.

METHODS

Using data from the Multicultural Adolescent Panel Survey, a nationally representative sample of children from multicultural families in Korea, this study employed novel asymmetric fixed-effects models that separately assess the effects of entering and exiting bullying victimization. Interaction models were conducted to consider the moderating roles of maternal and paternal college attainment.

RESULTS

Conventional fixed-effects models showed that bullying victimization is significantly associated with an increase in depressive symptoms (b = 0.261). Asymmetric fixed-effects models suggest that the magnitude of the entry effect (b = 0.299) was significantly larger than that of the exit effect (b = -0.237). Furthermore, maternal college education amplified the mental health benefits of exiting from bullying victimization but did not buffer the harmful effects of entering bullying victimization. Gender-stratified analyses indicate that this protective effect of maternal college education was only significant for girls. Paternal college education, on the other hand, did not moderate either the entry or exit effects of bullying victimization.

DISCUSSION

The study's findings on the asymmetric effects of bullying victimization on depressive symptoms emphasize the importance of providing follow-up care and mental health support for multicultural family youth who have experienced bullying, with particular attention to those with a history of victimization.

The relationship between parental adverse childhood experiences and parenting behaviors

BACKGROUND

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are strongly related to the development of various health problems. Several previous studies have revealed the link between ACEs, parental mental health, and child psychopathology. However, the direct association between ACEs and parenting behaviors is still understudied.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the relationship between parental ACEs and parenting, the effect of mental health which possibly mediated parenting behaviors, and the prevalence of ACEs.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Data was obtained from 403 parents of 6-18-year-old students in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from January to February 2023.

METHODS

Relationships among ACEs, depression, anxiety, stress, and parenting behaviors were examined using correlation analysis and path analysis. The direct and indirect effects of potential associated factors on parenting behaviors were also examined.

RESULTS

Overall, 62.5 % of parents reported at least one ACE. Path analysis revealed significant direct effects of ACEs on poorer mental health in all subscales: depression, anxiety, and stress (β = 0.19, 0.21, 0.18 respectively). ACEs were directly associated with the use of corporal punishment (β = 0.15). Stress also had a positive direct effect on inconsistent discipline (β = 0.18).

CONCLUSION

ACEs are common in parents and associated with mental health problems. ACEs also affect parenting behaviors via direct and indirect pathways. It is important to detect and provide interventions to parents having a history of ACEs and poor mental health to improve the quality of parenting practices.

The Effectiveness of GenerationPMTO During Sustained Implementation in the Public Mental Health System: A Single-Arm Open Trial Evaluation

To support families and reduce the burden of child mental, emotional, and behavioral problems, evidence-based parenting interventions must remain effective in real-world service delivery contexts. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the GenerationPMTO (GenPMTO) intervention during sustained implementation in the Michigan public mental health system using a single-arm open trial (pre-post) design. We also examined potential predictors of treatment response. A multilevel analysis framework was utilized to evaluate data from 365 caregivers who completed GenPMTO treatment. Results revealed significant positive improvements from pretest to posttest in all four outcome domains (i.e., parenting confidence, parenting practices, caregiver depressive symptoms, child behavior problems). When compared to group-based GenPMTO delivery, the individual delivery format was associated with significantly greater improvements in overall effective parenting practices, as well as in the subdomain of skill encouragement. Caregiver gender, caregiver educational level, and child age were all implicated as predictors of GenPMTO outcomes. These findings add to the literature by supporting the effectiveness of the GenPMTO intervention when fully integrated into mental health care practice and can inform continued efforts to provide families with evidence-based services in community settings.

Social contributions to meaning in life: the role of romantic relationship quality, parenting, and gender

Introduction

The present study tests the association between romantic relationship quality and number of children on meaning in life (i.e., sense of purpose, coherence, and significance) and considers interactions between these constructs and gender.

Methods

A survey was conducted approximately one year into the pandemic among 473 individuals in the United States.

Results

Models demonstrated that relationship quality and number of children are positively associated with meaning, though relationship quality was more strongly related to meaning for men than women. We showed that for women there was an equally positive link between relationship quality and meaning regardless of number of children. However, for men, the positive association between relationship quality and meaning was strongest for those with more than one child, decreased in magnitude for those with one child, and was no longer significant for men with more than one child.

Discussion

These findings provide empirical evidence that social relationships benefit meaning in life and underscore the complexity of these associations. Results have implications for theoretical perspectives on meaning in life, as well as for policies that encourage family wellbeing.

Elucidating mechanisms linking mothers' and fathers' mind-mindedness in infancy with children's self-regulation at early preschool age

Extensive research has examined factors that contribute to individual differences in children's self-regulation (SR), a key social-emotional competence crucial to adjustment and mental health. Those differences become salient and measurable at late toddler age. In the CAPS (N = 200 community families), we examined mothers' and fathers' appropriate mind-mindedness (MM)-the ability to view the child as a psychological agent and correctly interpret his or her mental states-as a predictor of children's SR. MM was observed in parent-child interactions at 8 months, and SR was observed as the capacity for deliberate delay in standard tasks at 3 years. Reflecting a family system perspective, processes both within and across mother-child and father-child relationships were examined in one model. Parent-child mutual responsiveness, observed during interactions at 16 months, was modeled as a mediator of the paths from MM to SR. Fathers' MM had a significant, direct positive effect on SR; in addition, it enhanced mutual responsiveness in both father-child and mother-child dyads and promoted child SR through enhanced mother-child mutual responsiveness. The findings elucidate relatively poorly understood mechanisms linking parental MM in infancy with SR at early preschool age, highlight similarities and differences in the processes unfolding in mother-child and father-child relationships, and emphasize interparental dynamics in socialization.

Exploring the key drivers of responsive parenting in mothers and fathers - observed and self-reported responsiveness

BACKGROUND

This article explores parental responsiveness - the ability of a parent to react to a child's needs adequately, promptly, and with tenderness and synchrony. Parental responsiveness can be measured using observational and self-report scales. The purpose of this study was to explore whether individual differences in empathy and attachment in mothers and fathers and their satisfaction with their relationship are predictors of parental responsiveness toward infants. Moreover, self-report and observational measures of parental responsiveness were compared.

PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE

A total of 110 triads (mother, father, and child aged 6-10 months) took part in the free play procedure and parents' behaviors towards their children were assessed using the Ainsworth Sensitivity Scale. Moreover, they filled out a set of questionnaires measuring parental self-reported responsiveness, empathy, experiences in close relationships and romantic relationship satisfaction.

RESULTS

Higher empathic concern was connected with higher responsiveness and this was seen in both individual and partner measures. At the individual level, measures of responsiveness (self-report and observational) were not congruent and probably depended on other variables. In couples, there were positive correlations in three aspects of their family functioning: observed and self-reported parental responsiveness as well as relationship satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed differences between self-reported and observational measures of parental responsiveness, indicating that their results may not always be congruent and could depend on other variables.

Perceived parental warmth attenuates the link between perceived parental rejection and rumination in Chinese early adolescents: two conditional moderation models

Background

Prior studies have explored the association between perceived parental rejection-warmth and adolescents' rumination, but it is unclear whether the interaction between perceived parental rejection and warmth can predict adolescents' rumination in a Chinese context and whether this interaction varies by children's gender during the post-COVID-19 era.

Objective

This study aimed to address these issues in Chinese early adolescents from a family system perspective.

Methods

A total of 910 adolescents (M age = 13.63, 48.50% female) from two middle schools in Chongqing and Changsha, China participated in the survey, answering measures for demographics, perceived parental rejection-warmth, and rumination.

Results

The results show that adolescents' rumination was positively related to perceived paternal rejection (r = 0.326, p <.001) and maternal rejection (r = 0.343, p <.001), and negatively related to perceived paternal warmth (r = -.184, p <.001) and maternal warmth (r = -0.125, p <.001). Moreover, perceived maternal warmth significantly moderated the link between perceived paternal rejection and adolescents' rumination (boot effect = -0.066, 95CI% = [-0.124, -0.010]), but this moderating effect is only presented in boys not in girls (boot effect = -0.063, 95CI% = [-0.015, 0.140]). However, perceived paternal warmth moderated the link between perceived maternal rejection and rumination in adolescents (boot effect = -0.052, 95CI% = [-0.103, -0.001]), and this interaction varied by adolescents' gender (boot effect = 0.103, 95CI% = [0.029, 0.177]).

Conclusions

Perceived Parental rejection and parental warmth co-exist in the Chinese family system, and they exert an interactive effect on adolescents' rumination depending on their gender. It implies that both parents should be more accepting, caring, considerate, and warm toward their daughters, and it is also in line with the tradition and status quo of parenting in Chinese families. These findings have implications for Chinese parental co-parenting practices in families with adolescents and adolescence mental health counseling work.

Prosocial and externalizing behaviors in children raised by different-and same-gender parent families: new directions in parenting research

Introduction

Limited research focused on the association between parenting practices and children's prosocial and externalizing behaviors comparing same- and different-gender parent families. The present study considered 76 Italian families (73% same-gender and 27% different-gender parent families) with 8-year-old (SD = 2.17; 49% assigned female at birth) children born through assisted reproductive techniques, to explore parenting practices and children's prosocial and externalizing behaviors.

Method

We ran a Multiple-group-by-couple Structural Equation Model in which we estimated the predictive role of parenting on children's behaviors, controlling for age, gender, and family socioeconomic status using the Maximum Likelihood estimation.

Results

Results showed that both same- and different-gender parent families reported high levels of parental warmth and very low levels of hostility and rejection; regarding children's behaviors, both same- and different-gender parent families reported high levels of prosociality and low levels of externalizing behaviors. In addition, same-gender parents reported significantly higher levels of children's prosociality and parental warmth than different-gender parents. Regarding associations between parenting practices and behaviors, we found a positive association between positive parenting practices and increasing children's prosocial behaviors and decreasing children's externalizing behaviors, in both same- and different-gender families, controlling for family background characteristics.

Conclusion

The present study encourages future research to investigate how specific parenting practices can influence behavioral adjustment in children, focusing on same-gender parent families.

Spanking and Corporal Punishment Parenting Practices and Child Development: A Systematic Review

Violence against children is a significant problem, particularly during early childhood development. Spanking and other forms of corporal punishment in child-rearing have been used by families worldwide to correct children's unwanted behaviors. Despite previous studies focusing on the negative consequences of these parental practices, open questions remain. The present study aimed to systematically review the empirical studies published in scientific literature that examined the associations between parenting practices of spanking and corporal punishment of mothers and their children's behaviors and development in early childhood. Search was performed in PubMed, APA PsycNet, Web of Science, SciELO, and LILACS databases using the combination of the following keywords: ((spank OR physical punishment OR physical abuse OR physical maltreatment OR corporal punishment) AND (parenting)) AND (child* development OR child* behavior). The inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied and 34 articles were selected for review. The inclusion criteria were the following: studies that evaluated associations between maternal spanking or corporal punishment practices and behaviors or development of 0-to-6-year-old children; quantitative studies; studies published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese language. The results showed that in 94% of the studies, there were significant associations between maternal spanking and corporal punishment with deteriorated child behavior and development, concurrently or later. In addition, maternal physical practices also acted as mediators or moderator variables in models that explained behavioral and developmental problems in early childhood.

Mothers' and fathers' infant-directed speech have similar acoustic properties, but these are not associated with direct or indirect measures of word comprehension in 8-month-old infants

Previous research on infant-directed speech (IDS) and its role in infants' language development has largely focused on mothers, with fathers being investigated scarcely. Here we examine the acoustics of IDS as compared to adult-directed speech (ADS) in Norwegian mothers and fathers to 8-month-old infants, and whether these relate to direct (eye-tracking) and indirect (parental report) measures of infants' word comprehension. Forty-five parent-infant dyads participated in the study. Parents (24 mothers, 21 fathers) were recorded reading a picture book to their infant (IDS), and to an experimenter (ADS), ensuring identical linguistic context across speakers and registers. Results showed that both mothers' and fathers' IDS had exaggerated prosody, expanded vowel spaces, as well as more variable and less distinct vowels. We found no evidence that acoustic features of parents' speech were associated with infants' word comprehension. Potential reasons for the lack of such a relationship are discussed.

The Father's Part: Influences of Paternal Psychopathology and Parenting Behavior on Child and Adolescent Well-Being

Family influences on child quality of life (QoL) are increasingly understood. Parenting behavior and parent individual psychopathology are among the established predictors of offspring mental health. However, literature often addresses these factors as 'parental', lacking further gender-specific differentiation while predominantly studying maternal aspects. Social and biological fathers are still underrepresented in family research. The aim of this study was to analyze paternal contributions to child well-being. A total of 197 father/mother-dyads gave a standardized self-report on parenting behavior and their own psychopathology at child primary school age (t1; 6-10 y). Ratings were compared mutually and associated with child self-rated QoL at t1 and adolescence (t2; 12-14 y). Fathers and mothers differed in psychopathology and most parenting behavior dimensions (positive parenting, involvement, responsible parenting, poor monitoring, and corporal punishment). Father psychopathology made a relevant predictive contribution to girls' QoL at t2. Boys' t1 QoL was significantly influenced by maternal parenting factors (positivity and corporal punishment). Compared to mothers, fathers are faced with different individual stressors; paternal parenting behavior is different, while fathers' influences are significant, particularly for daughters. Father-addressed pre- and intervention programs in child psychotherapeutic treatment are of high relevance.

The Mediating Role of Mindful Parenting in the Relationship Between Parental Anxiety and Youth's Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties

One of the central questions in the theory of the intergenerational transmission of psychological symptoms is to identify whether parenting practices explain the transmission of psychological symptoms from parents to youth. This study examined the mediating mechanism of mindful parenting in the relationship between parental anxiety and youth's emotional and behavioral difficulties. In three waves separated by six months, longitudinal data were collected from 692 Spanish youth (54% girls) aged between 9 and 15 years (Mage = 12.84 years, SD = 1.22 years at Wave 1) and their parents. Path analysis showed that maternal mindful parenting mediated the relationship between maternal anxiety and the youth's emotional and behavioral difficulties. No mediating effect was found concerning fathers; however, marginal bidirectional relationships were obtained between paternal mindful parenting and youth's emotional and behavioral difficulties. This study addresses one of the main concerns about the theory of intergenerational transmission using a multi-informant and longitudinal study design, concluding that maternal anxiety predicts less mindful parenting practices and these in turn predict youth's emotional and behavioral difficulties.

The mediating effect of math self-efficacy on the relationship between parenting style and math anxiety

The present study aims to investigate the associations among math self-efficacy, parenting style, and math anxiety in primary school children. The sample comprised 400 participants, aged between 10 and 11 years old, from an elementary school in China. Participants completed three self-reported questionnaires on math anxiety, parenting styles and math self-efficacy. The results revealed that rejection was strongly and positively correlated with math anxiety, while emotional warmth was negatively related to math anxiety. Interestingly, math anxiety was found to be related to rejection, with math self-efficacy playing a mediating role in this relationship. Conversely, math self-efficacy played a mediating role in the relationship between parenting styles and math anxiety, while over protection exhibited no significant correlation with math anxiety. The study also showed that gender differences existed in the level of math anxiety and math self-efficacy, with boys exhibiting lower math anxiety and higher math self-efficacy than girls. These results provide important insights into the development and treatment of math anxiety in primary school children. Specifically, parents and educators should focus on enhancing children's math self-efficacy beliefs, while adopting a parenting style characterized by emotional warmth and low levels of rejection.

Effect of the emotional valence of autobiographical memory and parental bonding on depressive symptoms in a community sample

Retrospective perceptions of parental bonding may be a protective factor for emotional health. These perceptions are grounded in autobiographical memory, which plays a key role in the onset and maintenance of depressive symptomatology. The aim of the present study was to explore whether the emotional valence of autobiographical memories (positive and negative) and the dimensions of parental bonding (care and protection) have an impact on depressive symptomatology, examining the role of depressive rumination and possible age-related differences. A total of 139 young adults (18-28 years) and 124 older adults (65-88 years) completed the Parental Bonding Instrument, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), the Autobiographical Memory Test and the Short Depressive Rumination Scale. Our results show that positive autobiographical memories serve as a protective factor for depressive symptoms in both young and older adults. Additionally, in young adults, high paternal care and protection scores are associated with increased negative autobiographical memories, although this association has no effect on depressive symptomatology. In older adults, high maternal protection scores are directly related to greater depressive symptomatology. Depressive rumination significantly increases depressive symptoms in both young and older adults, with an increase in negative autobiographical memories in young adults, and a decrease in such memories in older adults. Our findings progress the understanding of the relationships between parental bonding and autobiographical memory with respect to emotional disorders, which, in turn, will help in the design of effective prevention measures.

Moderating role of sociodemographic factors in parental psychiatric treatment before and after offspring severe self-harm

BACKGROUND

Parental psychiatric disorders are known risk factors for adolescent self-harm. Although this association is likely to have a bidirectional element, evidence on changes in parental psychiatric treatment following offspring self-harm is scarce.

METHODS

Finnish children born in 1987-1996 with a hospital-treated episode of self-harm between the ages 13 and 19 years (N = 3636) were identified using administrative register data, and their biological mothers (N = 3432) and fathers (N = 3167) were followed two years before and after the episode. Data on purchases of psychotropic medication, specialized psychiatric treatment and psychiatric sickness allowances were used to examine psychiatric treatment among parents. Differences by parental education, employment and living arrangements were assessed, and offspring self-harm was compared with offspring accidental poisonings and traffic accidents.

RESULTS

Psychiatric treatment peaked among mothers during the three-month period after offspring self-harm, after which the treatment prevalence decreased but remained slightly elevated relative to the time preceding offspring self-harm. Higher levels of education and being employed increased the likelihood of treatment right after the episode. Among fathers, changes in treatment were negligible. Treatment trajectories around the comparison events of accidents were similar in shape but more muted than among the parents whose children had self-harmed.

LIMITATIONS

General practitioner visits or other data from primary health care were not available.

CONCLUSION

Mothers receive increased psychiatric treatment after stressful offspring events. Our results indicate that prevention of self-harm and accidents would be beneficial not only for those directly concerned but also for their family members.

Parental Worry About COVID-19 in Preschool Children's Mothers During the Pandemic Waves: The Role of Maternal Negative Feelings and Parenting Styles

This cross-sectional study explores the relationship between maternal feelings, maternal parenting styles, and mothers' worry about COVID-19's detrimental consequences on preschool children's health and well-being. The study is among the first to concentrate on this reference specific group, whose characteristics might be particularly vulnerable to COVID-19's adversities. One hundred and four mothers of at least one preschool-age child completed an online questionnaire battery, which included the Parental Feelings Inventory, the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ), and the parental worry about COVID-19 scale. Negative maternal feelings (i.e., anger, anxiety/sadness) were associated with authoritarian and indulgent parenting practices, especially verbal hostility, while maternal happiness was associated with more authoritative practices, especially warmth and support. The hierarchical multiple regression model explained about 42% of variance of the overall maternal worry about COVID-19 from maternal negative feelings and parenting styles, with maternal authoritative parenting and maternal anxiety/sadness as the significant predictors that uniquely explain maternal worry about COVID-19. These results are discussed in terms of positive and negative maternal worry, which partially reflect the differences between overprotective and authoritative parenting in early childhood.

Maternal History of Childhood Adversities and Later Negative Parenting: A Systematic Review

Adverse childhood experiences negatively impact future violence, victimization, perpetration, health, and lifelong development. The aim of the present study was to systematically review the scientific evidence of empirical studies on the association between maternal childhood adversity in a familial context, including maltreatment, household challenges, and later maternal negative parenting. A search was performed in the PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, SciELO, and LILACS databases, using the combination of the following keywords: (neglect OR abuse OR maltreatment OR harsh parenting OR punishment OR discipline OR negative parenting practices) AND (adverse childhood experiences OR early adversity OR cycle of violence OR cycle of maltreatment OR history of maltreatment) AND (mother OR maternal). The results of 29 studies showed predominantly significant direct associations between maternal childhood adversities and negative parenting with their children (83%). Parental stress was also significantly associated with a maternal history of childhood adversities. Focusing on the type of maltreatment practices, there were similar intergenerational transmission types: homotypic and heterotypic. Few studies have examined the protective factors that could buffer the negative impact of a maternal childhood history of adversities on later negative parenting.

Are my parents psychopaths? How Mental health and self-esteem is impacted by perceived dark traits in parents

Relationships between parents and their descendants are necessary for healthy socio-emotional development. For a better understanding of these relationships, past studies found that personality traits significantly impact parenting constructs, such as attachment patterns, parental care, and relationship satisfaction, suggesting that the psychological aspects of parents can affect their descendants. In our research (N = 250), we asked participants to rate how they perceive their parents regarding their aversive personality traits (i.e., Dark Triad), parenting style characteristics, relationship satisfaction, and their own well-being and self-esteem. We then developed two mediational models (SEM), one for mothers and one for fathers. In these models, we assessed how the Dark Triad impacted mental health and self-esteem, mediated by authoritarian parenting style and relationship satisfaction. The models presented a good fit (e.g., CFI > 0.90). Psychopathic traits positively influenced an authoritarian parenting style for both parents, leading to worse relationship satisfaction and affecting their descendants’ mental health and self-esteem. Furthermore, we also observed the indirect effects of parental psychopathy on our outcomes, which were higher for mothers than fathers. Overall, our study provides the first assessment of how parents’ higher levels of dark traits can influence their descendants’ mental health and self-esteem.

Maternal and Paternal Authoritarian Parenting and Adolescents' Impostor Feelings: The Mediating Role of Parental Psychological Control and the Moderating Role of Child's Gender

INTRODUCTION

Recent systematic reviews about the impostor phenomenon unveil a severe shortage of research data on adolescents. The present study aimed at reducing this gap in the literature by investigating the association between maternal and paternal authoritarian parenting and impostor feelings among adolescents, while testing the mediating role played by parental psychological control and the moderating role of the child's gender in this context.

METHODS

Three hundred and eight adolescents took part in an online survey, in which they reported anonymously on their impostor feelings and their parents' parenting styles via several valid psychological questionnaires. The sample consisted of 143 boys and 165 girls, whose age ranged from 12 to 17 (M = 14.67, SD = 1.64).

RESULTS

Of the sample's participants, over 35% reported frequent to intense impostor feelings, with girls scoring significantly higher than boys on this scale. In general, the maternal and paternal parenting variables explained 15.2% and 13.3% (respectively) of the variance in the adolescents' impostor scores. Parental psychological control fully mediated (for fathers) and partially mediated (for mothers) the association between parental authoritarian parenting and the adolescents' impostor feelings. The child's gender moderated solely the maternal direct effect of authoritarian parenting on impostor feelings (this association was significant for boys alone), but not the mediating effect via psychological control.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study introduces a specific explanation for the possible mechanism describing the early emergence of impostor feelings in adolescents based on parenting styles and behaviors.

Parental conditional regard: A meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Parental conditional regard involves parents giving or withdrawing affection and approval, depending on children's and adolescents' compliance with parental expectations, to shape behaviors and traits. Research grounded in self-determination theory suggests parental conditional regard harms psychological development. Using self-determination theory as a theoretical foundation for investigating outcomes associated with parental conditional regard, the present study consolidated meta-analytic associations between parental conditional regard and four theoretically important individual difference correlates: introjected self-regulation, contingent self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and relatedness.

METHODS

Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature search was conducted using the PsycINFO, ProQuest, and EBSCO databases for English-language, peer-reviewed published studies and unpublished studies. Eligible studies reported an association between parental conditional regard and the four theoretically derived correlates or another correlate of interest in pre-adolescent children, adolescents, or young adults. The results were based on a random-effects model for meta-analyses and the Q statistic for moderator analyses.

RESULTS

Across 31 samples in total, greater parental conditional regard was significantly associated with more introjected regulation (r = .33), contingent self-esteem (r = .29), and level of depressive symptoms (r = .22); and less relatedness (r = -.24). Moderator results for parental conditional regard type found parental conditional regard's association with introjected regulation was significantly stronger for studies measuring giving regard (parental conditional positive regard) than withdrawing regard (parental conditional negative regard). The association of parental conditional regard with depressive symptoms was significantly stronger for studies measuring parental conditional negative regard than parental conditional positive regard.

CONCLUSIONS

The meta-analytic results provide theoretical and empirical support for the connections between self-determination and the impact of parental conditional regard.

Emotional Warmth and Rejection Parenting Styles of Grandparents/Great Grandparents and the Social-Emotional Development of Grandchildren/Great Grandchildren

Parenting styles are crucial in the process of forming social emotions in children. They are also vital for creating effective family policies in order to improve a child's early development. As such, it is important to acknowledge the enduring association of parenting styles across generations, as well as their impact on early child development. In this study, the question as to whether the warm and hostile parenting styles of a parent/grandparent mediate the relationships between the emotional warmth and rejection parenting styles of a grandparent/great grandparent, as well as the subsequent social-emotional development of a grandson/great grandson and/or a granddaughter/great granddaughter, was examined. Cross-sectional assessment data from 194 primary caregivers of children between 6 and 36 months were analyzed using mediation analyses. In addition, moderated mediation models were used to test heterogeneity effects. This study found evidence that the warm and hostile parenting styles of a parent/grandparent mediated the associations between the emotional warmth and rejection parenting styles of a grandparent/great grandparent, as well as the subsequent socio-emotional development of a grandchild/great grandchild. Parents/grandparents tend to use a warm parenting style when the child is a boy, thereby resulting in fewer socio-emotional problems. This study provides empirical evidence for the purposes of preventive services to improve caregivers' parenting styles in the early stages of a child's development. Researchers and family practitioners should continue to support families with intervention or therapeutic techniques in order to mitigate potential lasting consequences.

Internalizing and externalizing correlates of parental overprotection as measured by the EMBU: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Aspects of parenting including overprotection explain individual differences in child adjustment. This review and meta-analysis summarizes studies on parental overprotection and internalizing and externalizing problems. To ensure that findings could be compared as systematically as possible, the focus was on studies that used the overprotection scale of the Egna Minnen Beträffande Uppfostran ("Memories of my Parents' Upbringing") (EMBU) questionnaire, a popular instrument to measure parental overprotection. In total, we extracted 176 effects from 29 studies. A modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to perform quality assessments for the included studies. Parental overprotection was associated positively with offspring internalizing and externalizing problems, with overall estimates ranging from r = .14 to .18. Moderator analyses suggested that effects of maternal were larger than effects of paternal overprotection. Other factors that moderated the strength of the association between overprotection and maladjustment included whether outcomes were self-reported or parent-reported, the design was cross-sectional or longitudinal, and publication year. Cultural context, age at exposure, and child sex did not explain differences between effect sizes. Most findings were based on cross-sectional studies and therefore do not constitute proof of causal relations. Many studies were of less-than-satisfactory quality regarding representativeness of the sample, descriptions of the data collection, and statistical analyses. There is a clear need for well-powered longitudinal studies to strengthen inferences about associations between parental overprotection and internalizing and externalizing problems.

Family origins of distinct forms of children's involvement in interparental conflict

Previous research has highlighted the value in parsing unidimensional assessments of children's involvement in interparental conflict into distinct forms for advancing an understanding of children's development; however, little is known about the underlying antecedents of distinct forms of involvement. The present study provides the first systematic analysis of the interparental conflict and parenting predictors of residualized change in maternal reports of three forms of children's involvement in interparental conflict (i.e., cautious, caregiving, coercive). Participants in this multimethod, multi-informant longitudinal study included 243 preschool children (Mage = 4.60 years), mothers, and their partners from racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse backgrounds. Multivariate analyses demonstrated selectivity in links between interparental conflict and parenting and children's involvement in interparental conflict. Findings from the interparental conflict analyses revealed that Wave 1 constructive conflict uniquely predicted lower Wave 2 cautious involvement, and Wave 1 hostile conflict uniquely predicted greater Wave 2 coercive involvement. Findings from the parenting analyses indicated that Wave 1 maternal responsiveness uniquely predicted lower Wave 2 cautious involvement and Wave 1 maternal vulnerability uniquely predicted greater Wave 2 coercive involvement. Although interparental conflict and parenting antecedents did not predict caregiving involvement, a series of follow-up analyses individually examining each form of interparental conflict and parenting as a predictor of children's involvement revealed that greater Wave 2 caregiving involvement was predicted by higher levels of Wave 1 disengaged conflict and lower levels of Wave 1 constructive conflict. Findings are interpreted in the context of developmental psychopathology models that emphasize children's response patterns to family adversity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

The Effects of Strain-Based Work-Parenting Conflict on Dual Income Couples' Energy

(1) Background: Gender differences between men's and women's parenting roles are well-documented as the "second shift". We examined the main effects and interaction of work distress and parenting distress with energy (i.e., vigor) in a sample of 310 dual-income, different-sex couples with kids married for approximately nine years. (2) Methods: We used actor-partner interdependence modeling (APIM) to examine how spouses' distress was associated with their energy. (3) Results: For both wives and husbands, there were negative associations between the actor's parenting distress and their energy level and between the actor's work distress and their energy level. However, only wives experienced a significant interaction of work and parenting distress such that high levels of both forms of distress were associated with low levels of energy, indicating that only wives experience this form of work-family conflict. (4) Conclusions: When women experience more strain at home than men, they may need more time to recover from their work and family duties. If they cannot do so, they will have less energy to carry out their responsibilities and may be at a higher risk of future adverse health outcomes.

Caught in the spider's web: an investigation of dysfunctional behavioural patterns in a family firm

Purpose

Drawing on the theory of goal systems applied to family business this case study focuses on the interdependence between non-economic goals and family goals, in order to identify if and how achieving non-economic goals generates dysfunctional behavioural patterns for family members in the long term.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used an inductive, 20-year longitudinal case-study based methodology.

Findings

This case study shows how the business family faces ethical/affective dimensions, struggling every day for a balance and often undermining the legitimisation and differentiation of its children. Findings show that the achievement of non-economic goals can occur to the detriment of family goals, such as by generating a dysfunctional system, specifically in business family adaptability.

Research limitations/implications

The principal limitation is that this single case study evidently does not allow for complete generalization of the findings.

Practical implications

This case study makes a contribution to alerting the family business system to the long-term risk they face in trying to simultaneously maintain both harmony/cohesion and ethics/responsibility. Practitioners and consultants are therefore called on to help family firm owners with adopting a strategic vision by considering possible long-term counterfinal (i.e. mutually incompatible) goals.

Social implications

SMEs are the most widespread type of firm in the world, and consequently dysfunctional behavioural patterns within business families represent a prominent socio-economical problem for policy makers and institutions.

Originality/value

This study shows that, in the long term, that which is perceived to be a desirable goal can transpire to be a dysfunctional pattern. In doing so, this research introduces a new point of view to the literature on goal systems in family business.

Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma: The Mediating Effects of Family Health

Family health is important to the well-being of individual family members and the collective family unit, and as such, may serve as a mediator for the intergenerational transmission of trauma (ITT). This study aimed to understand the intergenerational impact of parent’s adverse and positive childhood experiences (ACEs and PCEs) on their children’s adverse family experiences (AFEs) and how family health mediated those relationships. The sample consisted of 482 heterosexual married or cohabiting couples (dyads) in the United States who had a child between the ages of 3 and 13 years old. Each member of the dyad completed a survey, and data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Parental ACEs were associated with more AFEs. The fathers’, but not the mothers’, ACEs were associated with worse family health. Parental PCEs were associated with better family health, and family health was associated with lower AFE scores. Indirect effects indicated that parental PCEs decreased AFEs through their impact on family health. Family health also mediated the relationship between the father’s ACEs and the child’s AFEs. Interventions designed to support family health may help decrease child AFEs.

A Two-Way Street? Reciprocal Associations Between Parental Warmth and Hostility with Substance Use Among Justice-Involved Adolescents

Transactional developmental theories propose that poor parenting behaviors contribute to youth substance use, and youth substance use contributes to poor parenting behaviors. However, research aimed at testing these theories has not distinguished: (1) between- and within-person sources of variance; (2) maternal and paternal parenting behaviors; and (3) alcohol, marijuana, and other illicit drug use. This study addressed these limitations by investigating the reciprocal associations between maternal and paternal warmth and hostility with alcohol, marijuana, and other illicit drug use among justice-involved adolescents, an at-risk population for substance use. 1354 justice-involved adolescents (86.4% male; M_age = 16.04 [SD = 0.14], range = 14-17; 41.4% Black, 33.5% Hispanic, 20.2% White, 4.8% other race/ethnicity) completed self-reports assessing parental warmth, parental hostility, and substance use every six months for 36 months. Random-intercept structural equation models disaggregated between- and within-person associations. At the between-person level, maternal and paternal warmth were negatively associated with alcohol, marijuana, and other illicit drug use, whereas maternal and paternal hostility were positively associated with alcohol, marijuana, and other illicit drug use. At the within-person level, maternal and paternal warmth predicted decreases in marijuana and other illicit drug use, and paternal warmth predicted decreases in alcohol use six months later. Maternal hostility predicted increases in subsequent marijuana and other illicit drug use. Marijuana and other illicit drug use predicted decreases in subsequent paternal hostility. The results are partially consistent with transactional developmental models proposing recursive influences between parenting behaviors and youth substance use. Evocative effects were in the opposite direction than expected and specific to fathers, such that youth drug use was related to improvements in the father-youth relationship. The results support the potential utility of family-based interventions for substance use among justice-involved adolescents.

Parenting dimensions/styles and emotion dysregulation in childhood and adolescence: a systematic review and Meta-analysis

Emotion dysregulation is a transdiagnostic factor in the development of various mental and behavioral disorders, thus requiring ample evidence for prevention and intervention approaches. The aim of the current systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the association between parenting dimensions/styles and emotion dysregulation in childhood and adolescence. Following the PRISMA guidelines, the review was registered (PROSPERO CRD42021251672) and search terms were entered in Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, and PubMed in May 2021. Articles needed to report on empirical studies that examined the association between parenting dimensions/styles and emotion dysregulation in children/adolescents with primary data, and be published in English in a peer-reviewed journal. Additionally, articles were excluded based on certain designs and focus on special populations. The narrative synthesis includes 30 articles, and of which 27 are included in the meta-analysis. An NHLBI tool with 14 items (e.g., validity) was utilized for assessing the quality of the included studies. General trends indicate that positive parenting (e.g., warmth, supportiveness) is negatively associated with emotion dysregulation, whilst negative parenting (e.g., psychological control, authoritarian) is positively associated. The meta-analysis reveals an overall small yet significant effect, however, the heterogeneity of the studies is moderate to high. A funnel plot demonstrated no evidence of publication bias. Limitations include the varying conceptualizations of emotion dysregulation, as well as a lacking focus on specific types of emotion. Although more research is needed, addressing factors such as culture, gender, and age, the review provides first indications of the significance of parenting dimensions/styles for emotion dysregulation.

Adolescents' Attachment to Parents and Reactive-Proactive Aggression: The Mediating Role of Alexithymia

Aggressive behaviors can serve different functions, which might be understood by distinguishing between reactive (RA) and proactive (PA) aggression. Few studies were conducted on adolescents’ family precursors and emotional processes associated with RA or PA. Accordingly, the current study compared RA and PA by evaluating their association with adolescents’ attachment to parents and alexithymia. N = 453 Italian adolescents aged 15–19 years (Mage = 16.48; SD = 0.69; 33.6% males) participated in the study filling in self-report measures. Results showed that PA and RA are significantly associated and that PA was higher among males. Moreover, four mediational models were performed to assess the influence of adolescents’ attachment to mothers vs. fathers on RA or PA, considering the mediating role of alexithymia. Gender was included as a covariate. Mediational models’ results showed a direct and indirect effect, through lower alexithymia, of adolescents’ attachment to mothers and fathers on RA. Differently, only attachment to mothers showed a direct effect on PA, while attachment to fathers only an indirect effect, mediated by lower alexithymia, on PA was shown. Findings support the greater relevance of emotional processes for RA while highlighting the differential contribution of adolescents’ attachment to mothers vs. fathers upon PA. Implications are discussed, and suggestions for future research are provided.

Gender differences in the supply of alcohol to adolescent daughters and sons

Background: Parents are the main supplier of alcohol to children but it is not known whether mothers and fathers equally contribute to the supply of alcohol to their female and male children as these children transition to adulthood.Objectives: i) to determine whether the gender of the parent is associated with the gender of the adolescent offspring when alcohol is supplied and ii) whether the gender of the parent supplying is associated with gender differences in adolescent binge drinking and alcohol related harms.Methods: Longitudinal cohort of 1,927 (males = 1052) Australian adolescents (mean age 12.9 years), recruited in 2010/11 from schools in Australia and surveyed annually for six years. We assessed the association between adolescent and parent gender related to subsequent adolescent drinking, binge drinking (>4 standard drinks), and alcohol-related harms.Results: At mean age of 12.9 years about one in ten children report parental supply of alcohol which increases to about four in ten children by 17.8 years. Mothers consistently more often supply their daughters with alcohol than their sons, [Wave 5 OR 1.77 (1.53,2.05)], while mothers less often supply sons than their daughters, [Wave 5 OR 0.82 (0.71,0.95)]. Mothers' supply of alcohol to daughters predicts substantially increased odds of daughters binge drinking, [OR 1.67 (1.10,2.53)] and experiencing alcohol related harms, [OR 1.65 (1.10,2.48)].Conclusion: There is a need to involve both mothers and fathers and to equally target female and male children in programs to reduce the harmful consequences of parental supply of alcohol to their children.