Citation

Bombi AS, Pastorelli C, Bacchini D, Di Giunta L, Miranda MC, Zelli A. Parent. Sci. Pract. 2011; 11(2-3): 129-141.

Affiliation

Interuniversity Center for the Study of Development of Prosocial and Antisocial Behaviors, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15295192.2011.585557

PMID

21927586

PMCID

PMC3173761

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The present study examined mean level similarities and differences as well as correlations between mothers' and fathers' attributions regarding successes and failures in caregiving situations and progressive versus authoritarian attitudes.

DESIGN: Interviews were conducted with both mothers and fathers in 177 Italian families from Rome and Naples.

RESULTS: Fathers' attributions reflected higher perceived control over failure than did mothers' attributions, whereas mothers reported attitudes that were more progressive than did fathers. Only the difference in progressive attitudes remained significant after controlling for parents' age, education, and possible social desirability bias. Site differences emerged for four of the seven attributions and attitudes examined; three remained significant after controlling for parents' age, education, and possible social desirability bias. Medium effect sizes were found for concordance between parents in the same family for authoritarian attitudes and modernity of attitudes after controlling for parents' age, education, and possible social desirability bias.

CONCLUSIONS: This work elucidates ways that parent gender and cultural context relate to attributions regarding parents' success and failure in caregiving situations and to progressive versus authoritarian parenting attitudes.

Language: en