Mothers, fathers, sons and daughters: Parental sensitivity in families with two children.

Abstract

Most studies on early childhood parenting include only mothers. Fathers are rarely observed in interaction with their young children, although they play an important role in the socialization of their children. In this study, we observed parenting of mothers and fathers toward their sons and daughters in families with two children, using a within-family approach in a sample with systematically varying family constellations. Participants included 389 families with two children (1 and 3 years of age). Parenting practices were coded during free play using the Emotional Availability Scales (Biringen, 2008). Findings revealed that mothers showed higher levels of sensitivity and lower levels of intrusiveness toward their children than fathers. Furthermore, mothers and fathers were more sensitive and less intrusive toward their oldest child than toward their youngest child. Fathers' higher intrusiveness toward the youngest child was only found in the case of a youngest boy. Child gender was not related to parenting in any of the other analyses. Our results suggest that parent gender is more salient than child gender in the prediction of parenting practices in early childhood.

Emotional interactions in European American mother–infant firstborn and secondborn dyads: A within-family study.

“…In consequence, the uncertain state of this literature likely reflects these scientific and methodological disparities (Michalski & Shackelford, 2001; Price & Hare, 1969). For mean level analyses, depending on these parameters, mothers have been reported to favor firstborns (e.g., Belsky, Gilstrap, & Rovine, 1984; Dunn & Plomin, 1986; Hallers-Haalboom et al, 2014; Jacobs & Moss, 1976; van IJzendoorn et al, 2000) or favor secondborns (e.g., Moore, Cohn, & Campbell, 1997; Ward, Vaughn, & Robb, 1988) or treat first- and secondborns equitably (e.g., Dunn & Plomin, 1986; Dunn, Plomin, & Nettles, 1985; Holden & Miller, 1999). By contrast, mothers’ socioemotional interactions with their two children tend to show moderate order consistency (e.g., Dunn & Plomin, 1986; Dunn, Plomin, & Daniels, 1986; Dunn et al, 1985; Robinson & Little, 1994; van IJzendoorn et al, 2000), albeit with some exceptions dictated by moderator.…”

Preschool Children’s Prosocial Behavior: The Role of Mother–Child, Father–Child and Teacher–Child Relationships

“…There are significant differences between the quantity and quality of mothers' and fathers' involvement with the child (Parke, 2002 for a review). Differences in the amount of time mothers and fathers spend with the child, the type of joint activities they perform and their style of interaction, have been PRESCHOOL CHILDREN'S PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR 5 reported (Hallers-Haalboom et al, 2014;Lewis & Lamb, 2003;McBride & Mills, 1993;Roopnarine, Fouts, Lamb, & Lewis-Elligan, 2005;Yeung, Sandberg, Davis-Kean, & Hofferth, 2001). Although both parents can be equally sensitive and responsive, mothers tend to be verbal and didactic in their play, while fathers tend to engage in a more physically stimulating and unpredictable play (Lewis & Lamb, 2003;Parke, 2002).…”

From parent–child mutuality to security to socialization outcomes: developmental cascade toward positive adaptation in preadolescence

“…It is possible that the difference in the pathways was due to the fact that at each age from 38 to 80 months (although no longer at age 10), MRO in mother-child dyads was significantly higher than MRO in father-child dyads (a finding consistent with Hallers-Haalboom et al, 2014). This was also true for children’s security measure at age 8.…”

“…For example, compared to infants’ interactions with mothers, which comprised more caregiving, those with fathers have been described as comprising a higher proportion of play (Lamb, 1977). In a recent study, mothers were more sensitive during free play with their young (1- and 3-year-old) children than fathers (Hallers-Haalboom et al, 2014). Despite the possible differences, however, a recent meta-analysis indicated that fathers’ sensitivity predicts children’s security, much as it does for mothers (Lucassen et al, 2011).…”

“…Consequently, studies of attachment, and parenting more generally, in mothers and fathers have been encouraged and are on the rise (Berlin et al, 2008; Brumariu & Kerns, 2010; Fearon et al, 2010; Hallers-Haalboom et. al., 2014; Kerns, 2008; Steele, Steele, & Fonagy, 1996).…”