Relations between bedtime parenting behaviors and temperament across 14 cultures

Abstract

ObjectivesThe present study examined parental sleep-supporting practices during toddlerhood in relation to temperament across 14 cultures. We hypothesized that passive sleep-supporting techniques (e.g., talking, cuddling), but not active techniques (e.g., walking, doing an activity together), would be associated with less challenging temperament profiles: higher Surgency (SUR) and Effortful Control (EC) and lower Negative Emotionality (NE), with fine-grained dimensions exhibiting relationships consistent with their overarching factors (e.g., parallel passive sleep-supporting approach effects for dimensions of NE).MethodsCaregivers (N = 841) across 14 cultures (M = 61 families per site) reported toddler (between 17 and 40 months of age; 52% male) temperament and sleep-supporting activities. Utilizing linear multilevel regression models and group-mean centering procedures, we assessed the role of between- and within-cultural variance in sleep-supporting practices in relation to temperament.ResultsBoth within-and between-culture differences in passive sleep-supporting techniques were associated with temperament attributes, (e.g., lower NE at the between-culture level; higher within-culture EC). For active techniques only within-culture effects were significant (e.g., demonstrating a positive association with NE). Adding sleep-supporting behaviors to the regression models accounted for significantly more between-culture temperament variance than child age and gender alone.ConclusionHypotheses were largely supported. Findings suggest parental sleep practices could be potential targets for interventions to mitigate risk posed by challenging temperament profiles (e.g., reducing active techniques that are associated with greater distress proneness and NE).

Turkish adaptation of the maternal cognition about infant sleep questionnaire

“…The cross-cultural differences in parenting behavior and infant sleep ecology have previously been studied [ 19 , 20 ]. Compared to parents from Caucasian countries, parents from Asian countries are more likely to be involved in sleep initiation of their children and interact with their children following night wakings and only few children from Asian origin can fall asleep independently.…”

Temperament and behaviour problems in children: A multilevel analysis of cross‐cultural differences

“…Future studies should include observational indicators, which could be obtained in the home and/or the laboratory. Finally, culturally influenced parenting practices were not considered herein and likely influence temperament development and conferred symptom risk (Lansford et al, 2018; Pham et al, 2022), thus should be considered in the future.…”