Group and individual stability of three parenting dimensions
2011

Stability of Parenting Dimensions Over Nine Months

Sample size: 150 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Tormod Rimehaug, Jan Wallander, Turid Suzanne Berg-Nielsen

Primary Institution: Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)

Hypothesis

How stable are the parenting dimensions of warmth, protectiveness, and authoritarianism over a nine-month period?

Conclusion

Parenting dimensions can change over nine months, with warmth being the most stable and authoritarianism the least stable.

Supporting Evidence

  • Warmth showed the highest stability among parenting dimensions.
  • Protectiveness was moderately stable.
  • Authoritarianism was the least stable dimension.
  • Instability in warmth was linked to lower personality trait scores.

Takeaway

Parents can change how they act with their kids over time, especially in being warm or strict. Some parents stay the same, while others might become colder or more controlling.

Methodology

Questionnaires were given to parents twice, nine months apart, measuring parenting styles and emotional symptoms.

Potential Biases

Self-reported data may lead to overestimation of stability.

Limitations

The study's sample size was limited, and results may not apply to younger children or older adolescents.

Participant Demographics

Parents aged 26 to 58 years, with a mean age of 40.6 years; 59% were mothers; children aged 8 to 15 years.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1753-2000-5-19

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