The Relationship Between Parent-Child Attachment And Parenting Style:the Moderate Role Of Early Child Temperament

Early parent-child attachment is the primarily interpersonal relationship for early child. It is a result of the reciprocal effect (i.e. a dyadic relationship) between child and parents in the family ecosystem. According to family system theory, there may be a bidirectional effect between parent-child attachment and parents because they are independent subsystems in family system. Parent-child attachment can impact child development outcomes, and also impact parental mental outcomes, such as parenting style. Most of previous empirical studies have focused on the influence of parenting styles on parent-child attachment. There is a little research to consider the influence of parental-child attachment on parenting styles. Additionally, previous studies found that child early temperament moderated the relation between parent-child attachment and child outcomes. A little research has considered the moderating role of early child temperament on the relationship between parental-child attachment and parenting styles.The present study aimed to explore whether parent-child attachment (i.e. mother-child attachment and father-child attachment) and its interaction with child early emotionality can predict parenting styles (maternal and paternal parenting styles). We hypothesized that the influence of parent-child attachment on parenting styles and the moderating role of child early emotionality would vary with gender of parents. The present participants were 269 children (132 boys and 137 girls) and their parents obtained from a longitudinal study in Nanjing, China. They were recruited from a maternal and child service center in Nanjing. When children were 14 months old, their parents reported respective parent-child attachment with Parent-child Attachment Scale adapted from Attachment Q-Sort, and their mothers reported children’s emotionality with Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ). When children were 24 months old, parents reported respective parenting styles on items adapted from Child-Rearing Practices Report Q-Sort. This study focused on three dimensions in parenting styles:protection/concern, harsh parenting and acceptance. Multiple regression analyses were used.The main results in the present study were described as follows:(1) Mother-child attachment positively predicted maternal acceptance and did negatively maternal harsh parenting and maternal protection/concern when children were 14 months old. Father-child attachment positively predicted paternal acceptance, but did negatively paternal harsh parenting when children were 14 months old. However, there was no significant effect of father-child attachment on paternal protection/concern.(2) Children’s distress to limitations moderated the relation between mother-child attachment and maternal harsh parenting when children were 14 months old. Specifically, for children with high levels of distress to limitations, mother-child attachment negatively predicted maternal harsh parenting. In contrast, for children with low levels of distress to limitations, mother-child attachment could not predicted maternal harsh parenting.(3) Children’s smiling and laughter moderated the relation between mother-child attachment and maternal protection/concern when children were 14 months old. Specifically, for children with high levels of smiling and laughter, mother-child attachment negatively predicted maternal protection/concern. In contrast, for children with low levels of smiling and laughter, mother-child attachment could not predicted maternal protection/concern.(4) Children’s distress to limitations moderated the relation between father-child attachment and paternal protection/concern when children were 14 months old. Specifically, for children with high levels of distress to limitations, father-child attachment negatively predicted paternal protection/concern. In contrast, for children with low levels of distress to limitations, father-child attachment could not predicted paternal protection/concern.(5) Children’s smiling and laughter moderated the relation between father-child attachment and paternal harsh parenting when children were 14 months old. Specifically, for children with low levels of smiling and laughter, father-child attachment negatively predicted paternal harsh parenting. In contrast, for children with high levels of smiling and laughter, father-child attachment could not predicted paternal harsh parenting.(6) Children’s early emotionality (i.e. distress to limitations, smiling and laughter, fear) could not significantly moderate the relation between parent-child attachment and parental acceptance; children’s fear could not significantly moderate the relation between parent-child attachment and parenting styles.In summary, parent-child attachment influences parenting styles. Child early emotionality moderates the relationship between parent-child attachment and parenting styles. The influence of parent-child attachment on parenting styles and the moderating role of child early emotionality would vary with gender of parents.