Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2019 Nov:57:101323.
doi: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2019.04.005. Epub 2019 May 16.

Interaction between maternal and paternal parenting styles with infant temperament in emerging behavior problems

Shannon M O Wittig  1 , Christina M Rodriguez  2
Affiliations

Interaction between maternal and paternal parenting styles with infant temperament in emerging behavior problems

Shannon M O Wittig et al. Infant Behav Dev. 2019 Nov.

Abstract

This study examined the interaction effects of infant temperament (negative affect, orienting/regulatory capacity, surgency) on the relationship between maternal and paternal parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian, permissive) and externalizing and internalizing behaviors simultaneously. A diverse sample of mothers (N = 186) and fathers (N = 142) reported on infant temperament of their 6-month-olds and their children's internalizing and externalizing behaviors one year later. Significant interactions revealed: (a) surgency moderated maternal authoritative and paternal permissive parenting style and externalizing behaviors; and (b) surgency moderated maternal authoritarian and paternal authoritative parenting style and internalizing behaviors. No significant interactions were found between maternal and paternal parenting styles and their report of their infants' orienting/regulatory capacity and negative affect. Findings suggest interaction effects may appear beginning in infancy.

Keywords: Externalizing behavior problems; Infant temperament; Internalizing behavior problems; Longitudinal; Moderation; Parenting styles.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Hypothesized path model examining whether temperament moderates the relationship between parenting styles and toddlers’ externalizing and internalizing behaviors (T2).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
The interaction between maternal authoritative parenting and surgency in predicting toddlers’ externalizing behaviors. * indicates statistical significance (p < .05).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
The interactions between maternal authoritarian parenting and surgency in predicting toddlers’ internalizing behaviors. * indicates statistical significance (p < .05).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
The interactions between maternal and paternal authoritative parenting style and surgency in predicting toddlers’ internalizing behaviors. * indicates statistical significance (p < .05).
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
The interactions between maternal and paternal permissive parenting and surgency in predicting toddlers’ externalizing behaviors. * indicates statistical significance (p < .05).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Achenbach TM, & Rescorla LA (2000). Manual for the ASEBA Preschool Forms & Profiles. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Research Center for Children, Youth, & Families.
    1. Bagner DM, Rodríguez GM, Blake CA, Linares D, & Carter AS (2012). Assessment of behavioral and emotional problems in infancy: A systematic review. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 15, 113–128. 10.1007/s10567-012-0110-2 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Baumrind D (1966). Effects of authoritative parental control on child. Child Development, 37, 887–907. 10.2307/l126611 - DOI
    1. Bell RQ (1968). A reinterpretation of the direction of effects in studies of socialization. Psychological Review, 72, 81–85. - PubMed
    1. Bell RQ (1979). Parent, child, and reciprocal influences. American Psychologist, 34, 821–826.

Publication types