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Controlling Parenting Behaviors in Parents of Children Born Preterm: A Meta-Analysis

Carolina Toscano1, Isabel Soares1, Judi Mesman2

  • 1Psychology Research Center (CIPsi), School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; and.

Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics : JDBP
|December 24, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Parents of preterm children exhibit more controlling parenting behaviors than parents of full-term children. This highlights the need for psychosocial support for parents of preterm infants.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatrics
  • Family Studies

Background:

  • Parenting styles significantly influence child development.
  • Children born preterm may face unique challenges impacting parent-child interactions.
  • Controlling parenting is a dimension of parenting behavior that can affect child outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if parents of preterm-born children differ from parents of full-term-born children in their level of controlling parenting.
  • To synthesize existing research on parenting styles in families with preterm infants.

Main Methods:

  • A meta-analysis was conducted, synthesizing data from 34 studies.
  • Included 8053 participants: 3265 children born preterm and 4788 children born full-term.
  • Searched multiple databases for relevant cross-sectional and longitudinal studies.

Main Results:

  • Parents of preterm-born children were found to be more controlling than parents of full-term-born children (Hedges' g = 0.29, p < 0.001).
  • Significant heterogeneity was observed across studies, but not explained by factors like gestational age, child gender, or study design.
  • No moderation effects were found for child's age, birth weight, parental education, or type of parenting assessment.

Conclusions:

  • Parents of preterm infants demonstrate a higher propensity for controlling parenting strategies.
  • These findings underscore the critical need for targeted psychosocial support services for parents of preterm children.
  • Early intervention and support can potentially mitigate risks associated with controlling parenting in this population.
Abstract

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