The Determinants of Parenting Behavior

TLDR

The review covers Patterson’s behavioral model, Abidin’s parenting stress model, and Belsky’s process model of parenting determinants. The study explores factors influencing parenting behavior and proposes an integrated model combining sociological, environmental, behavioral, and parental personality factors to predict parenting behavior. A new self‑report instrument, the Parenting Alliance Inventory, is introduced to assess marital factors that directly influence parenting. The paper outlines implications for future research on parenting behavior.

Abstract

Explored factors that influence parenting behavior through examination of previously reported and more recently developed models for predicting parenting behavior. Patterson's behavioral model, Abidin's initial model of parenting stress, and Belsky's process model of determinants of parenting are reviewed. A proposed model is presented to improve on previous models by integrating sociological, environmental, and behavioral factors, as well as personality characteristics of the parent, in predicting parenting behavior. Finally, description is provided on a new self-report measure (i.e., the Parenting Alliance Inventory) developed to focus on those aspects of the marital relationship that bear directly on parenting. Implications for future research are presented.