title: Predictors of positive and negative parenting behaviours: evidence from the ALSPAC cohort.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to establish the predictors of positive and negative parenting behaviours in a United Kingdom population. The majority of previous research has focused on specific risk factors and has used a variety of outcome measures. This study used a single assessment of parenting behaviours and started with a wide range of potential pre- and post-natal variables; such an approach might be used to identify families who might benefit from parenting interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a case-control subsample of 160 subjects from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), regression analysis was undertaken to model parenting behaviours at 12 months as measured by the Mellow Parenting Observational System.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive parenting increased with maternal age at delivery, levels of education and with prenatal anxiety. More negative interactions were observed among younger mothers, mothers with male infants, with prenatal non-smokers and among mothers who perceived they had a poor support structure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates two factors which may be important in identifying families most at risk of negative parenting: younger maternal age at delivery and lack of social support during pregnancy. Such factors could be taken into account when planning provision of services such as parenting interventions. We also established that male children were significantly more likely to be negatively parented, a novel finding which may suggest an area for future research. However the findings have to be accepted cautiously and have to be replicated, as the measures used do not have established psychometric validity and reliability data.
authors.forename: Rachel M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: Clare S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Allely
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Purves
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Puckering
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McConnachie
authors.forename: Paul C D
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Golding
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gillberg
authors.affiliation: Centre for Rural Health, The Centre for Health Science, University of Aberdeen, Old Perth Road, Inverness IV2 3JH, Scotland. p.wilson@abdn.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support