Influences of Adult Gender and Parenthood on Adult-Child Interaction Style
Previous studies report differences between mothers and fathers during parent–child interactions. However, the origins of these differences remain unknown. We address this gap by examining the impact of adult gender and gender perceptions on adult-child interactions. Unlike previous studies, we obse...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Children |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/12/1804 |
| _version_ | 1797460901597544448 |
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| author | Darcy K. Smith Ran An Klaus Libertus |
| author_facet | Darcy K. Smith Ran An Klaus Libertus |
| author_sort | Darcy K. Smith |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Previous studies report differences between mothers and fathers during parent–child interactions. However, the origins of these differences remain unknown. We address this gap by examining the impact of adult gender and gender perceptions on adult-child interactions. Unlike previous studies, we observed both parent and non-parent adults during one-on-one interactions with a child. Further, for non-parent adults the child’s identity was held constant while the child’s assumed gender was actively manipulated using clothing cues. Results reveal systematic differences between parents and non-parents, but also between male and female adults in language quantity, quality, and engagement strategies during adult-child interactions. Adults’ perceptions of gender roles partially explain these findings. In contrast, the child’s gender did not impact adult-child interactions. Together, our results support the notion that male and female adults offer unique contributions to a child’s development. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:11:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c6e946ea071b46adbf22bbf46877493c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:11:47Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-c6e946ea071b46adbf22bbf46877493c2023-11-24T14:00:02ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672022-11-01912180410.3390/children9121804Influences of Adult Gender and Parenthood on Adult-Child Interaction StyleDarcy K. Smith0Ran An1Klaus Libertus2Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USADepartment of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USADepartment of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USAPrevious studies report differences between mothers and fathers during parent–child interactions. However, the origins of these differences remain unknown. We address this gap by examining the impact of adult gender and gender perceptions on adult-child interactions. Unlike previous studies, we observed both parent and non-parent adults during one-on-one interactions with a child. Further, for non-parent adults the child’s identity was held constant while the child’s assumed gender was actively manipulated using clothing cues. Results reveal systematic differences between parents and non-parents, but also between male and female adults in language quantity, quality, and engagement strategies during adult-child interactions. Adults’ perceptions of gender roles partially explain these findings. In contrast, the child’s gender did not impact adult-child interactions. Together, our results support the notion that male and female adults offer unique contributions to a child’s development.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/12/1804parent–child interactionlanguage developmentgenderchild-directed speechfathers |
| spellingShingle | Darcy K. Smith Ran An Klaus Libertus Influences of Adult Gender and Parenthood on Adult-Child Interaction Style Children parent–child interaction language development gender child-directed speech fathers |
| title | Influences of Adult Gender and Parenthood on Adult-Child Interaction Style |
| title_full | Influences of Adult Gender and Parenthood on Adult-Child Interaction Style |
| title_fullStr | Influences of Adult Gender and Parenthood on Adult-Child Interaction Style |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influences of Adult Gender and Parenthood on Adult-Child Interaction Style |
| title_short | Influences of Adult Gender and Parenthood on Adult-Child Interaction Style |
| title_sort | influences of adult gender and parenthood on adult child interaction style |
| topic | parent–child interaction language development gender child-directed speech fathers |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/12/1804 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT darcyksmith influencesofadultgenderandparenthoodonadultchildinteractionstyle AT ranan influencesofadultgenderandparenthoodonadultchildinteractionstyle AT klauslibertus influencesofadultgenderandparenthoodonadultchildinteractionstyle |