Parenting and disruptive behavior: The role of egalitarian parenting and empathy

• Main Author: Pastuszak, Joseph Paul
• Other Authors: Cliff McKinney
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: MSSTATE 2013
• Subjects: Psychology
• Online Access: http://sun.library.msstate.edu/ETD-db/theses/available/etd-05162013-183220/

<p>Previous research indicates that significant environmental factors, parenting styles in particular, have an influence on a child's likelihood to develop disruptive behavior. Higher reported levels of affective empathy are associated with lower rates of disruptive behavior. Further, authoritative parenting style and parental involvement has been associated with lower disruptive behavior rates. Fathers who are involved equally as much or more than the mother are described as egalitarian. The current study examined the effects of parenting, particularly egalitarian parenting, on empathy and disruptive behavior. Results indicated affective and cognitive empathy correlated negatively with disruptive behavior, egalitarian characteristics in fathers were correlated positively with cognitive and affective empathy and negatively with disruptive behavior, and empathy did not mediate or moderate the relationship between fathers' egalitarian parenting and disruptive behavior. Lastly, results indicated emerging adults from families with a biological mother and stepfather had higher empathy ratings compared to other household structures.</p>