Intergenerational transmission of warm-sensitive-stimulating parenting: a prospective study of mothers and fathers of 3-year-olds.
More than 200 New Zealand men and women studied repeatedly since age 3 were videotaped interacting with their own 3-year-old children to determine (a) whether childrearing and family climate experienced in 3 distinct developmental periods while growing up (i.e., early childhood, middle childhood, early adolescence) predicted parenting and (b) whether romantic relationship quality moderated the effect of childrearing history on observed parenting. Support for the first hypothesis emerged across all 3 developmental periods for mothers (only), with no evidence of moderating effects of romantic relationship quality for mothers or fathers. Results are discussed in terms of supportive versus harsh parenting, mother-father differences, and the characteristics of the sample.
Belsky
Jay
J
Institute for the Study of Children, Families, and Social Issues, Birkbeck University of London, United Kingdom. j.belsky@bbk.ac.uk
Jaffee
Sara R
SR
Sligo
Judith
J
Woodward
Lianne
L
Silva
Phil A
PA
D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014743:Videotape Recording