A study of the effects of parenting styles on preschool children’s temperament: A questionnaire-based analysis in the Chinese contexts

Conservatory of Music, Hunan Institute of Foreign Economics, Changsha, Hunan, 410000, China

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Abstract

The dynamic interplay between family parenting styles and children’s temperament is a critical focus in early childhood development research. This study adopted a quantitative research approach to investigate the relationship and underlying mechanisms linking parenting styles to temperament in 3- to 7-year-old children within the Chinese cultural context, utilizing parent-report measures. A sample of 30 families was assessed using the revised Parental Bonding Instrument (EMBU) to evaluate four dimensions of parenting and a culturally adapted three-factor model (emotionality, activity, sociability) of children’s temperament based on Wang Zhengyan’s framework. Results revealed that parents predominantly favored emotionally warm parenting styles. Stepwise regression analysis demonstrated that maternal emotional warmth significantly and positively predicted children’s emotional stability (β = 0.48, p < 0.05) and adaptability (β = 0.41, p < 0.05), while paternal overprotection negatively impacted social development (β = −0.32, p < 0.01). This study validates a culture-adaptive model of parenting-temperament interactions, underscores the bidirectional shaping dynamic in parent-child interactions, and provides empirically grounded strategies for family parenting practices in China.