Parenting and Child Personality as Modifiers of the Psychosocial Development of Youth with Cerebral Palsy

Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2022 Feb;53(1):137-155. doi: 10.1007/s10578-020-01106-1. Epub 2021 Jan 6.

Abstract

This two-year longitudinal study addressed the joint contribution of parent-rated parenting behaviors and child personality on psychosocial outcomes in 118 families of children with Cerebral Palsy (M age Time 1 = 10.9 years old, 64.4% boys). Latent change modeling revealed intra-individual changes in children's psychosocial development as internalizing and externalizing behaviors increased from the first to the second assessment and psychosocial strengths increased from the second to the third assessment, whereas externally controlling and autonomy-supportive parenting behavior remained stable over time. Externally controlling parenting related to higher levels of, and increases in behavioral problems, with these associations being most pronounced among children low on Extraversion, Conscientiousness, or Imagination. Autonomy-supportive parenting related to higher levels of psychosocial strengths, with this association being most pronounced among children high on Emotional Stability.

Keywords: Cerebral palsy; Parenting; Personality; Psychosocial functioning; Within-person level.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Cerebral Palsy*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Parent-Child Relations
  • Parenting / psychology
  • Personality
  • Problem Behavior* / psychology