Poster #57 - The Associations Between Playfulness in Parents, Parenting Styles, and Child Playfulness

• In Event: Poster Session 12

Abstract

Parenting styles and behaviours can be influenced by several factors that can have profound effects on the development of children. Many researchers have explored the best ways to improve parenting by remedying negative attributes while neglecting positive traits that could be strengthened. Amongst the positive parental behaviours, parents are expected to be sensitive and create secure attachments to their children (Jones, et al., 2014). This is very important; however, current research often neglects to investigate the other positive aspects of parenting, such as being playful and enjoying their role as a parent. Parental playfulness is defined as a parent’s use of creativity, imagination, and humor during parent-child interactions (Menashe-Grinberg & Atzaba-Poria, 2017). Therefore, this study aims to explore the associations between parental playfulness and various other aspects of parenting, to get a better portrait of who are these parents adopting such a playful attitude and how it is associated to children’s behaviors. We will assess the links between parental playfulness and child playfulness, their endorsement of various parenting behaviours (e.g., expressing affection physically, or encouraging their children to engage in risk-taking activities), and how overwhelmed one feels with their role as a parent. We will also explore the moderation effect of parental gender on these associations.
The sample consisted of 348 parents of children aged 3-8 years old (Mage= 61.25 months, SD= 16.46). A majority of the parents in the sample were White (76%). Parents received a link to the questionnaire package and completed the questionnaires online. The questionnaire package included assessment of: Parental playfulness (PPQ; Shorer, et al., 2019); Adult playfulness (APS; Glynn & Webster, 1992); Parenting behaviours (CPBQ; Majdandzic et al., 2018; PBQ; Zubrick et al., 2014); Parental role (ROS; Thiagarajan et al., 2006); and Children’s playfulness (CPS; Barnett 1991; CBI; Rogers. et al. 1998).
After controlling for parental involvement, we found significant correlations between parental playfulness and aspects of child playfulness, as well as parental playfulness and other parenting behaviours (Table 1). The dimensions which rendered the most significant associations within child’s playfulness fall under the cognitive aspects of playfulness (e.g., sense of humour). Parental playfulness was associated with challenging parental behaviours as well as warm parenting behaviours, indicating that playful parents may push their children out of their comfort zones but also express affection and provide support.
There was no association found between parental playfulness and role overload, however there was a significant moderation effect of parental gender found for this relationship. This analysis showed that parental playfulness was positively associated to role overload for fathers, but this relationship was negatively related for mothers (Figure 1). This could mean that unlike overloaded mothers who may not find the time and energy to be as playful as they would like, fathers’ playfulness may be an indicator of their greater involvement with children and other aspects of parenting, leading to a feeling of being overwhelmed. Ideally, these results will provide a better picture of who are playful parents and how that trait may influence their children’s development.

Authors

• Harshita Seal, University of Ottawa
  Presenting Author

• Jean-Francois Bureau, University of Ottawa