Parenting stress mediates the association between negative affectivity and harsh parenting: A longitudinal dyadic
Yunying Le1, Steffany J Fredman1, Mark E Feinberg2
1Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University.
Summary
Parenting stress, including personal distress and child rearing stress, mediates the link between early negative emotions and later harsh parenting. Reducing this stress in the first year can lower risks for parents experiencing negative affectivity.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Family Studies
Background:
- Parental negative affectivity is a risk factor for harsh parenting.
- Parenting stress is a key factor in the transition to parenthood.
- Longitudinal studies are needed to understand the pathways from negative affect to harsh parenting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine parenting stress as a mediator between parental negative affectivity and harsh parenting.
- To investigate actor and partner effects in a dyadic context.
- To explore the differential roles of personal distress and child rearing stress.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal mediation analyses using Actor Partner Interdependence Modeling.
- Sample of 164 couples in a randomized controlled trial of a parenthood program.
- Assessment of negative affectivity, parenting stress, and harsh parenting across different postpartum periods.
Main Results:
- Parenting stress (personal distress and child rearing stress) significantly mediated the association between negative affectivity and harsh parenting.
- Personal distress had a stronger mediating effect than child rearing stress.
- Mothers' negative affectivity had a stronger indirect effect on fathers' harsh parenting through parenting stress than vice versa.
Conclusions:
- Parenting stress plays a crucial role in the longitudinal link between parental negative affectivity and harsh parenting.
- A dyadic approach is essential for understanding these associations.
- Interventions aimed at reducing parenting stress in the first year postpartum may mitigate harsh parenting outcomes.
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