Parenting behaviour and aggression: moderating effect of the gender of parents and child

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between parenting behaviours on adolescent aggression, examining the roles of parent and child gender as potential moderators. The primary research questions address whether parental warmth, psychological control, and behavioural control predict aggression in adolescents and how these relationships vary by parent and child gender. The study employed a cross-sectional design with a sample of 752 adolescents (mean age=13.18) in Singapore, who completed self-report measures on aggression and perceived parenting behaviours. Regression results revealed that parental psychological control was positively associated with aggression, while behavioural control was negatively associated. Parental warmth, however, did not show a significant relationship with aggression, deviating from previous findings. Maternal behavioural control was more strongly linked to lower aggression than paternal behavioural control, and boys showed higher aggression in response to psychological control than girls. These findings underscore the importance of considering both parent and child gender in understanding the effects of parenting on adolescent aggression. The results suggest that interventions aimed at reducing the use of psychological control may help reduce aggression, particularly in boys. This study contributes to a nuanced understanding of parenting’s influence on aggression, with implications for tailored approaches in parenting practices.