Parenting Styles and Early Childhood Behavioural Functioning: A Comparison Between Self-Reported and Observed Parenting Styles

Abstract

The current study investigated mothers’ and fathers’ self-reported and observed parenting styles, and determined how self-report and observation measures each predicted the social and emotional behaviours of toddlers. Thirty-one families participated in the study (18 boys and 13 girls between 29- and 46-months old; M = 36.2, SD = 4.9; 31 mothers and 31 fathers between 26 and 55 years old). Mothers and fathers completed a questionnaire concerning their child’s behavioural functioning and parent-child dyads were individually videotaped interacting in teaching and clean up tasks. Parents were assessed using the Parenting Styles and Dimensions coding scheme. Overall, low correspondence was found between self-reported and observed parenting styles. Mothers’ correspondence between measures was stronger than fathers’, and self-reported parenting styles were stronger predictors of parent reported children’s behavioural functioning. Findings are discussed in relation to previous research on parenting styles and children’s social and emotional behaviours.