Relations Between Parental Affect and Parenting Behaviors: A Meta-Analytic Review

Abstract

SYNOPSISObjective. The goal of the present investigation was to provide a meta-analytic review of the research on affect and parenting in nonclinical samples. Design. The authors conducted analyses on the overall mean effect size for 63 studies (k = 18,211). Affect was coded as either positive or negative, and parenting behavior was coded as either supportive-positive or harsh-negative. Moderators included definition of affect, time frame of measurement, reporter, child age, and parent gender. Results. The authors' analyses support the association between parental affect and parenting behavior, and this relation was consistent across types of affect and parenting, as well as gender of parent. Significant methodological moderators of these relations include time frame match and reporter match. Child age moderated the relation between negative affect and supportive-positive parenting, but not harsh-negative parenting. Last, both negative and positive affect showed specificity in their association with parenting behavior. Conclusion. Parental affect appears to be a reliable correlate of parenting behaviors in the general population. In addition, consistent with theory (T. Dix, 1991), negative affect was more strongly related to hostile parenting, and positive affect was more strongly related to supportive parenting. Methodological factors, such as time frame of measurement and reporter, as well as demographic variables, should be carefully considered in the design and interpretation of future studies of parental affect and parenting behaviors.

Investigating the Influence of Parenting Stress on Child Behavior Problems in Children with Developmental Delay: The Role of Parent-Child Relational Factors

“…Results suggesting that relational frustration was more strongly associated with parenting stress and child behavior problems than parent-reported attachment quality, confidence, discipline practices, or involvement, also underscore the particular significance of parental negativity and dyadic conflict to the processes under examination. This is consistent with existing studies demonstrating robust associations between parent negativity and criticism and problematic outcomes for children with DD (Carson and Parke 1996;Lovejoy et al 2000;Luoma et al 2004;Rueger et al 2011). Although this is the first known study to evidence parent-child relational frustration as a mechanism through which parenting stress influences child behavior, it is worth noting the context of our findings within a framework of parental role or relational satisfaction as well.…”

“…Evidence that parents' internal emotional experience during interactions with their children plays an important role in the unfolding of dynamic interpersonal processes consistent with a host of literature suggesting the centrality of emotional experiences and affective quality of parent-child interaction to child and family wellbeing in populations with and without DD (Landry et al 2001;Lovejoy et al 2000;NICHD 2004;Rueger et al 2011;Wiggins et al 2009). Additionally, increased negative affective experiences among parents of children with disabilities may be predictive of lower parenting satisfaction and decreased social competence among children over time (Carson and Parke 1996;Hanson and Hanline 1990).…”

Impact of Physical Abuse on Internalizing Behavior Across Generations

“…It has also been suggested that the elevated risk of maternal depression and other mood disorders as a consequence of child maltreatment may contribute to negative effects in the subsequent generation, particularly given the robust body of literature linking hostile parenting to caregiver negative affect states, including depression (Heim & Nemeroff, 2001; Rueger, Katz, Risser, & Lovejoy, 2011). Children with depressed mothers have significantly higher rates of internalizing symptoms relative to children whose mothers are not depressed (Connell & Goodman, 2002; Goodman et al, 2011).…”

Why do depressed individuals have difficulties in their parenting role?

“…Dix, 1991;Lovejoy et al 2000). Parents who score low on positive affect may interact less with their children or their interactions may have a 'flat tone' but probably they are not hostile or coercive, while parents scoring high on negative affect may be intrusive and excessively critical (Rueger et al 2011). Poor emotion regulation is also common in individuals who suffer depression.…”