A Study of the Relationship of Parenting Styles, Child Temperament, and Operatory Behavior in Healthy Children

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of the child's temperament, parenting styles, and parents' prediction of their child's behavior in the dental setting. Study design: Subjects were healthy children 4-12 years of age attending a dental clinic. A Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ) was given to parents to determine their parenting style. Parents completed the Emotionality, Activity, Sociability Temperament (EAS) survey to measure their child's temperament. Parents were asked to predict their child's behavior using the Frankl Scale. Results: Data analysis included 113 parent/child dyads. Parents accurately predicted their child's behavior 58% of the time. Significant correlations were noted between parent's predictions of behavior and emotionality (r = −.497, p < .001), activity (r = −.217, p < .009), and shyness (r = −.282, p < .002) of EAS. Significant correlations were found between actual behavior and emotionality (r = −.586, p < .001), activity (r = −.196, p < .03), and shyness (r = −.281, p < .003). Parenting style scores did not correlate to predicted or actual behavior; however, categories of PSDQ were related to parental predictions of behavior. Conclusions: Relationships between temperament and parenting may aid in predicting children's behavior in the operatory.