The relationship between older and newer parenting categories and child behavior

The relationship between parenting and child behavior was assessed with 15 mothers and 15 fathers of 2- to 3-year-old children. Higher maternal overreactivity was found to be related to more maternal and paternal attributions of child externalizing problems. Self-perception of more paternal nurturance, fewer demands for age-inappropriate responsibility and autonomy, and less laxness were related to fewer paternal attributions of child behavior problems. New constructs for the descriptive categories positive parenting and negative parenting are proposed. These constructs allow one to strongly predict attributions of child behavior. Additionally, each specific behavior forming these new categories is related to specific attributions of child behavior. These specific behaviors and constructs could refine the focus of parent-training programs.