Learning to be a Parent

An article published in a recent issue of Developmental Psychology presents the results of a longitudinal study of cross-generational parenting quality.  The researchers examined parenting skills in a sample of 61 participants (26 boys and 35 girls) in a lower socioeconomic status sample of moderate ethnic diversity. All subjects were part of a long-term study involving mothers recruited from Minneapolis public health clinics between 1976 and 1977.  The current study participants are second-generation subjects permitting assessment  of parenting skills across generations. Data was collected based on direct observation assessments for both generations in the study with controls being made for critical background factors such as stress, socioeconomic status, child and parent IQ.  For both parenting samples, parenting skills were assessed over a 24-month period.   Statistical analysis showed moderate stability (r = .43) in parenting quality across generations, and findings held after controlling for all other factors. The authors suggest that early parenting experience may play a significant role in passing on parenting skills to the next generation although extensive research is needed to demonstrate it further

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