Paternal parenting, child temperament, and problem behaviour: An investigation among young Hong Kong children

On the basis of a sample of 109 Chinese children, aged approximately 3 years, and their parents in Hong Kong, this study examined how paternal parenting interacted with 2 aspects of child temperament (i.e., negative emotionality and persistence) to predict children's internalizing and externalizing problems. Paternal supportive and aversive parenting practices were reported by fathers, and child temperament and behavioural problems were reported by both mothers and fathers. The results showed that paternal aversive parenting interacted with temperamental emotionality and persistence in the prediction of children's externalizing problems, controlling for maternal parenting. Specifically, young Chinese children who were more emotionally reactive and those who had lower attentional capacities were more vulnerable to aversive parenting from fathers, exhibiting more externalizing problems. Practical implications are discussed. Highlights: This study examined the interplay between child temperament and paternal parenting with regard to problem behaviour among Chinese preschoolers. Both mothers and fathers reported child behaviour problems, emotionality, persistence, and their parenting behaviour. Both emotionality and persistence interacted with aversive paternal parenting in relation to child externalizing behaviours, controlling for maternal parenting.