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Intergenerational stability in parenting across two generations: A multilevel meta-analytic review.
Sanne B Geeraerts1, Jenna Spitzer2, Susanne Schulz3
1Department of Youth and Family, Utrecht University.
Psychological Bulletin
|November 13, 2025
Summary
Intergenerational parenting stability is low on average, with variations influenced by parenting dimensions, parental gender, child age, and study methods. This meta-analysis highlights conditions affecting parenting continuity across generations.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Family Studies
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Parenting mechanisms show variability in intergenerational stability across studies.
- Longitudinal three-generation studies provide insights into parenting continuity.
- Understanding parenting transmission is crucial for developmental and family research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize findings from longitudinal three-generation studies on intergenerational parenting stability.
- To quantify the average effect size of parenting continuity.
- To identify moderators influencing the stability of parenting across generations.
Main Methods:
- A preregistered meta-analysis of 408 effect sizes from 24 data sets (51 articles).
- Inclusion of longitudinal three-generation studies measuring parenting in two generations.
- Three-level random-effects analyses to assess intergenerational parenting stability.
Main Results:
- Average intergenerational parenting stability is low (r = .12), with significant variation.
- Effect sizes were larger for specific parenting dimensions (acceptance, negativity), maternal or dual-parenting, and younger child age.
- Smaller effect sizes were observed when parenting was reported by Generation 2 and with higher attrition.
Conclusions:
- Intergenerational parenting stability is modest on average but influenced by parenting dimensions, gender, child age, and methodological factors.
- Identified conditions can explain differences in parenting continuity across generations.
- Findings contribute to understanding the complex dynamics of parenting transmission.
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