Intergenerational transmission of interpersonal strengths: The role of parent gender, family processes, and child characteristics

Abstract

Interpersonal strengths are important positive traits of human beings. This study investigated the phenomenon and mechanisms of the intergenerational transmission of interpersonal strengths. A total of 992 fourth-to ninth-grade children (48.1% boys, M age = 12.63) and both mothers and fathers in China were involved in the present study. The results showed that fathers' (but not mothers') interpersonal strengths were directly associated with children's interpersonal strengths. Different transmission mechanisms of mothers and fathers were found: mother-child relationships and fathers' parenting styles explained the association between parents' and children's interpersonal strengths and between marital relationships and children's interpersonal strengths. Consistent transmission effects and mechanisms were found across child grade, gender, and sibling status. The findings of the current study provide evidence of intergenerational correlations for both parents regarding interpersonal strengths. Parents (especially fathers) with interpersonal strengths can raise children with corresponding strengths through particular family processes regardless of child characteristics.

Parental Rearing Patterns and Interpersonal Skills in Deaf Chinese College Students: The Mediating Role of Theory of Mind

“…Positive parental rearing patterns were positively associated with interpersonal skills, while negative parental rearing patterns were negatively associated with interpersonal skills. The results are consistent with previous studies ( Liu et al, 2018 ). Social learning theory holds that children interact directly with parents by observing their parents’ interaction patterns or by learning from parents under their guidance ( Crittenden, 1984 ).…”

Parents’ Education Anxiety and Children’s Academic Burnout: The Role of Parental Burnout and Family Function

“…Therefore, parenting resources play a moderating role in the relationship between parenting requirements and parental burnout. Family is not only the initial and primary platform for parenting activities (Cheng et al, 2021), but also serves as the foundation of intimate relationships, partner communication, and parent-child interactions (Liu et al, 2018). Therefore, families may provide the main resources for parenting.…”

Linking family relationships with peer relationships based on spillover theory: A positive perspective

“…Interparental closeness: The Scale of Interparental Closeness from the national survey of Characteristics of Psychological Development of Chinese Children and Adolescents (Dong & Lin, 2011) was used and showed suitable psychometric properties in the Chinese population (Dong & Lin, 2011; Liu et al, 2018). The scale measures marital satisfaction, affection, communication, and demonstrations of concern from one’s spouse and includes five items: “My spouse and I…” (1) “…care for each other,” (2) “…understand each other,” (3) “…have common interests and hobbies,” (4) “…listen carefully when the other is speaking,” and (5) “…have a harmonious relationship.” Mothers and fathers responded to the questions separately on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 ( definitely does not apply ) to 5 ( definitely applies ).…”

“…Parent–child closeness: Fathers and mothers independently rated the closeness of their relationships with target children using the parent–child closeness subscale of the Chinese version of Pianta’s (1992) Child–Parent Relationship Scale (CPRS; Zhang & Chen, 2010) on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 ( definitely does not apply ) to 5 ( definitely applies ). The scale has previously established good reliability and validity for the Chinese population (e.g., Liu et al, 2018; Zhang & Chen, 2010). The closeness subscale measures a parent’s feelings of affection and open communication with his or her child and includes nine items (e.g., “I share an affectionate, warm relationship with my child”; α = 0.78 and 0.80 for mothers and fathers, respectively).…”

“…As the origin of family relationships, the quality of interparental relationships spills over into interactions between parents and children (Cox et al, 2001). Moreover, the spillover effects of interparental relationships on parent–child relationships may differ depending on a parent’s gender (e.g., Liu et al, 2018; Lucas-Thompson, 2009; Suh et al, 2016). For example, Lucas-Thompson (2009) found that mothers are more vulnerable to the spillover of interparental relationships on mother–child relationship quality than fathers.…”