Association between maladaptive parenting and child self-control over time: cross-lagged study using a monozygotic twin difference design.
BACKGROUND
Harsh parenting practices and negative parental feelings may be environmental risk factors for low self-control in children. Children may also evoke certain parenting reactions.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the longitudinal relationship between parenting and self-control, as well as associated outcomes within the monozygotic (MZ) twin differences framework.


METHODS
Longitudinal MZ twin differences analysis was conducted on a community sample of 5184 twins using data from ages 3, 4, 7 and 9 years. Outcomes related to self-control and parenting were analysed at age 12 years.


RESULTS
Non-shared environmental effects of parenting on the development of self-control and an evocative effect of child self-control on parenting were found. Harsh parenting predicted conduct problems for both boys and girls. Self-control at age 9 predicted conduct problems and emotional difficulties at age 12.


CONCLUSIONS
Parenting and child self-control affect one another, highlighting the potential of early interventions that target parents and children simultaneously.
Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
Charlotte A M
CA
Cecil
Edward D
ED
Barker
Sara R
SR
Jaffee
Essi
E
Viding
D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000523:psychology*