Positive Parenting and Boys' and Girls' Misbehaviour during a Home Observation

Abstract

The study examined the relations between mother-child and father-child interaction and child misbehaviour during a naturalistic family observation in the home. The families were middle class and nonclinic, and the target child was an eldest boy or girl aged 6-7 years. The main focus was on positive parenting in the forms of warmth/affection and positive involvement with the child. These two forms of positive parenting were negatively correlated with child misbehaviour. Parental warmth/affection was most strongly associated with daughters' misbehaviour, and positive involvement with sons' misbehaviour. The links between parenting behaviours and child misbehaviour rates were similar for mothers and fathers. It was argued that co-operative child behaviour may be associated with positive emotional states arising from positive parenting behaviour. The characteristics of the sample were considered important when assessing the prominence of positive parenting behaviours.