The influence of some parental characteristics on children's primary abilities and field independence: a study of adopted children

Abstract

The Children's Embedded Figures Test and measures of V, P, N and S abilities were administered to 5-7-year-old Belgian children (33 boys and 36 girls) adopted early in life. These child variables were correlated with the main factorial dimensions of the adoptive parents' answers on the Parental Attitude Research Instrument and on Buehler's Life Goals Inventory and with the adoptive mother's child-rearing practices, determined through an interview. The PARI dimensions were unrelated to children's test performances. Reinforcement of competition and independence, an interview variable, was significantly related to several ability measures and to the CEFT, especially in girls. The significant correlations of some LGI dimensions with boys' and/or girls' primary abilities were interpreted by referring to the influence on the development of children's abilities of a future-oriented attitude toward learning and memory and of a warm parent-child interaction.