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Published on: October 13, 2017
Power assertive discipline, maternal emotional involvement, and child adjustment
Nissa R Towe-Goodman1, Douglas M Teti
1Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. nrt1@psu.edu
Summary
Maternal emotional involvement influences how power assertive discipline affects child adjustment. Understanding this dynamic is key for positive child development outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Child Psychology
- Parenting Studies
Background:
- The relationship between power assertive discipline and child adjustment remains debated.
- Disentangling disciplinary methods from the parent-child emotional climate is crucial for understanding impacts.
- Existing research has not fully clarified how parenting practices influence child development within varying emotional contexts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the longitudinal associations between maternal emotional involvement, power assertive discipline, and child adjustment.
- To investigate whether maternal emotional involvement moderates the impact of power assertive discipline on child adjustment.
- To provide a nuanced understanding of parenting strategies and their effects on child development.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study design.
- Sample of 35 mothers and their children (infant, toddler, preschool age).
- Assessment of maternal emotional involvement, power assertive discipline, and child adjustment.
Main Results:
- Power assertive discipline's impact on child adjustment is not uniform.
- Maternal emotional involvement significantly moderates the relationship between power assertive discipline and child adjustment.
- Higher maternal emotional involvement may buffer negative effects of power assertive discipline on children.
Conclusions:
- The parent-child emotional climate, specifically maternal emotional involvement, is a critical factor in how disciplinary practices affect child adjustment.
- Interventions aimed at improving child adjustment should consider both disciplinary strategies and the quality of the parent-child emotional bond.
- Future research should continue to explore the interplay between parenting behaviors and emotional dynamics in child development.
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