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Predictors of positive and negative parenting behaviours: evidence from the ALSPAC cohort
Rachel M Thomson, Clare S Allely, David Purves
1Centre for Rural Health, The Centre for Health Science, University of Aberdeen, Old Perth Road, Inverness IV2 3JH, Scotland. p.wilson@abdn.ac.uk.
Insights
Younger maternal age and lack of social support during pregnancy predict negative parenting. Positive parenting is linked to older maternal age and higher education, with male infants more likely to experience negative interactions.
Area of Science:
- Parenting research
- Developmental psychology
- Family studies
Background:
- Previous research on parenting predictors often used varied outcome measures.
- This study employed a unified assessment of parenting behaviors.
- A broad range of prenatal and postnatal variables were examined.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify predictors of positive and negative parenting behaviors in a UK population.
- Determine factors for identifying families potentially benefiting from parenting interventions.
- Contribute to understanding influences on early parenting interactions.
Main Methods:
- Case-control subsample (n=160) from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).
- Regression analysis to model parenting behaviors at 12 months postpartum.
- Utilized the Mellow Parenting Observational System for behavior assessment.
Main Results:
- Positive parenting correlated with increased maternal age, higher education, and prenatal anxiety.
- Negative parenting interactions were more prevalent in younger mothers, mothers of male infants, prenatal non-smokers, and those with perceived poor social support.
- Male infants were significantly more likely to be negatively parented.
Conclusions:
- Younger maternal age and lack of social support during pregnancy are key indicators for families at risk of negative parenting.
- Findings suggest potential for targeted parenting interventions based on identified risk factors.
- The higher likelihood of negative parenting towards male infants warrants further investigation.
Background:
This study aimed to establish the predictors of positive and negative parenting behaviours in a United Kingdom population. The majority of previous research has focused on specific risk factors and has used a variety of outcome measures. This study used a single assessment of parenting behaviours and started with a wide range of potential pre- and post-natal variables; such an approach might be used to identify families who might benefit from parenting interventions.
Methods:
Using a case-control subsample of 160 subjects from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), regression analysis was undertaken to model parenting behaviours at 12 months as measured by the Mellow Parenting Observational System.
Results:
Positive parenting increased with maternal age at delivery, levels of education and with prenatal anxiety. More negative interactions were observed among younger mothers, mothers with male infants, with prenatal non-smokers and among mothers who perceived they had a poor support structure.
Conclusions:
This study indicates two factors which may be important in identifying families most at risk of negative parenting: younger maternal age at delivery and lack of social support during pregnancy. Such factors could be taken into account when planning provision of services such as parenting interventions. We also established that male children were significantly more likely to be negatively parented, a novel finding which may suggest an area for future research. However the findings have to be accepted cautiously and have to be replicated, as the measures used do not have established psychometric validity and reliability data.
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