Citation

Koenig JL, Barry RA, Kochanska G. Parent. Sci. Pract. 2010; 10(4): 258-273.

Affiliation

E11 Seashore Hall, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15295192.2010.492038

PMID

21243035

PMCID

PMC3018753

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This multi-method study of 102 mothers, fathers, and children examined children's difficult temperament as a moderator of the links between parental personality and future parenting.

METHODS: Parents described themselves on the Big Five traits and Optimism. Children's difficult temperament was observed at 25 and 38 months in paradigms that assessed proneness to anger. Each parent's responsive, affectively positive parenting was observed in lengthy naturalistic interactions at 67 months.

RESULTS: Regardless of child temperament, for mothers, low Neuroticism, and for fathers, high Extraversion predicted more positive parenting. For difficult, anger-prone children, mothers' low and high Optimism and fathers' low and high Openness were associated, respectively, with less or more positive parenting.

CONCLUSIONS: Challenges due to children's difficult temperaments appear to amplify links between parental personality traits and parenting.

Language: en