Self-reported parenting style is associated with children's inflammation and immune activation.
Family environments and parenting have been associated with inflammation and immune activation in children and adolescents; however, it remains unclear which specific aspects of parenting drive this association. In this study, we cross-sectionally examined the association between 5 discrete parenting styles and inflammation and immune activation in late childhood. Data were drawn from 102 families (55 with female children, mean age 9.50 years, SD = 0.34) participating in the Imaging Brain Development in the Childhood to Adolescence Transition Study. Children provided saliva samples from which inflammation (C-reactive protein) and immune competence/activation (secretory immunoglobulin A) were measured. Parents completed the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire, which measures 5 aspects of parenting style-positive parental involvement, positive disciplinary techniques, consistency in disciplinary techniques, corporal punishment, and monitoring and supervision. Results showed that higher scores on the poor parental monitoring scale were associated with higher levels of both inflammation and immune activation in children. This study highlights parental monitoring and supervision as a specific aspect of parenting behavior that may be important for children's physical and mental health. (PsycINFO Database Record
Department of Psychology.
Michelle L
0000-0002-4180-8095
ML
Byrne
Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne.
Paul B
PB
Badcock
Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences.
Julian G
JG
Simmons
Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Melbourne.
Sarah
S
Whittle
Department of Psychology.
Adam
A
Pettitt
Centre for Adolescent Health, Royal Children's Hospital.
Craig A
0000-0002-5927-2014
CA
Olsson
Centre for Adolescent Health, Royal Children's Hospital.
Lisa K
LK
Mundy
Centre for Adolescent Health, Royal Children's Hospital.
George C
GC
Patton
Department of Psychology.
Nicholas B
0000-0002-1086-6639
NB
Allen
D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D057566:Self Report