title: Intergenerational transmission of parenting: findings from a UK longitudinal study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The quality of parenting is associated with a wide range of child and adult outcomes, and there is evidence to suggest that some aspects of parenting show patterns of intergenerational transmission. This study aimed to determine whether such intergenerational transmission occurs in mothers and fathers in a UK birth cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study sample consisted of 146 mothers and 146 fathers who were recruited from maternity wards in England and followed up for 24 months ['Generation 2' (G2)]. Perceptions of their own parenting [by 'Generation1' (G1)] were assessed from G2 parents at 12 months using the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). G2 parents were filmed interacting with their 'Generation 3' (G3) children at 24 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that G1 mothers' 'affection' was associated with positive parenting behaviour in the G2 fathers ('positive responsiveness' β = 0.19, P = 0.04 and 'cognitive stimulation' β = 0.26, P < 0.01). G1 mothers' 'control' was associated with negative parenting behaviour in G2 mothers (decreased 'engagement' β = -0.19, P = 0.04), and negative parenting behaviour in G2 fathers (increased 'control' β = 0.18, P = 0.05). None of the G1 fathers' parenting variables were significantly associated with G2 parenting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is evidence of intergenerational transmission of parenting behaviour in this highly educated UK cohort, with reported parenting of grandmothers associated with observed parenting in both mothers and fathers. No association was seen with reported parenting of grandfathers. This raises the possibility that parenting interventions may have benefits that are realised across generations.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College, London, UK.
authors.forename: Vaishnavee
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Madden
authors.affiliation: 2 Imperial College, The Centre for Mental Health, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Domoney
authors.affiliation: 2 Imperial College, The Centre for Mental Health, London, UK.
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aumayer
authors.affiliation: 3 Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Vaheshta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sethna
authors.affiliation: 4 Academic Unit of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Iles
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hubbard
authors.affiliation: 6 Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannakakis
authors.affiliation: 7 Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: Lamprini
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Psychogiou
authors.affiliation: 2 Imperial College, The Centre for Mental Health, London, UK p.ramchandani@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramchandani
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting; D010331:Paternal Age; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D006113:United Kingdom