An Empirically Derived Classification of Parenting Practices

Authors

Viktor Brenner, Wisconsin School of Professional PsychologyFollow
Robert A. Fox, Marquette UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

14 p.

Publication Date

1999

Publisher

Taylor & Francis (Routledge)

Source Publication

The Journal of Genetic Psychology: Research and Theory on Human Development

Source ISSN

0022-1325

Abstract

Cluster analysis was used to empirically determine if parenting practices would reflect distinct patterns of parental behavior in a sample of 1,056 mothers. Hierarchical agglomerative clustering was performed with J. H. Ward’s (1963) method. R. Mojena’s (1977) criterion determined that a 4-cluster solution was optimal; the resulting patterns are described. Simplified rules for classifying new cases also were generated. The clusters differentiated the mothers by age, education, number of children, socioeconomic status, and frequency of reported behavior problems. Theoretical and methodological issues, links to D. Baumrind’s (1991) parenting styles, and the heuristic potential of classifying parenting practices are discussed.

Comments

The Journal of Genetic Psychology: Research and Theory on Human Development, Vol. 160, No. 3 (1998): 343-356. DOI.

Recommended Citation

Brenner, Viktor and Fox, Robert A., "An Empirically Derived Classification of Parenting Practices" (1999). College of Education Faculty Research and Publications. 183.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/edu_fac/183