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Bidirectional Relationships Between Parenting Styles and Preschoolers' Sensory Processing Sensitivity
Yuming Lu1,2, Qianwen Liu3,4, Zhenhong Wang5,6
1School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, No.199, South Chang'an Road, Xi'an, China.
Abstract:
This study explored the bidirectional relationship between parenting styles and three specific dimensions of sensory processing sensitivity (SPS; i.e., low sensory threshold, LST; ease of excitation, EOE; and aesthetic sensitivity, AES) in preschoolers using a cross-lagged panel model with one-year intervals. The Chinese versions of the Parenting Style and Dimension Questionnaire (PSDQ-C) and the Highly Sensitive Child Scale (HSC-C) were administered to primary caregivers of 448 Chinese preschoolers (Mage = 4.62, SD = 0.60 at T1) to assess parenting styles and preschoolers' SPS. The results indicated that authoritative parenting at T1 significantly predicted preschoolers' AES and LST at T2; however, its influence on preschoolers' EOE was not significant. Conversely, EOE at T1 negatively predicted authoritative parenting at T2, but preschoolers' AES and LST at T1 did not significantly predict authoritative parenting at T2. Additionally, authoritarian parenting was not found to be longitudinally related to specific dimensions of SPS. The findings highlight the reciprocal influences between different SPS dimensions and family environments in early childhood.
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Parenting Styles
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This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
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Sensory Modalities
General senses refer to the broad category of sensory information detected by receptors in the body and can be further grouped into somatic and visceral senses. Somatic sensations include touch, pressure, temperature, and pain and are essential for navigating our environment and...
Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
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