Intergenerational transmission of qualities of the parent-child relationship in the population-based Young Finns Study

: Kateryna Savelieva, Liisa Keltikangas-Järvinen, Laura Pulkki-Råback, Markus Jokela, Jari Lipsanen, Päivi Merjonen, Jorma Viikari, Olli T. Raitakari, Mirka Hintsanen

Publisher: ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

: 2017

: European Journal of Developmental Psychology

: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

: EUR J DEV PSYCHOL

: 14

: 4

: 416

: 435

: 20

: 1740-5629

: 1740-5610

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17405629.2016.1230057

We examined the intergenerational transmission of parent-child relationship qualities in a population-based Finnish sample of 1418 participants (G2) and their mothers (G1). At baseline, G1 (Mage=38) reported qualities of the parent-child relationship in terms of emotional warmth and acceptance towards G2 (age range 3-18). After 28years, G2 (Mage=39) rated the qualities of the parent-child relationship regarding their own children using the same questionnaire. Emotional warmth and acceptance were transmitted across generations even after controlling for demographic and family characteristics in both generations. The transmission was stronger for emotional warmth than acceptance. For emotional warmth, intergenerational transmission was stronger for men than women. The findings provide evidence for the long-term transmission of parenting quality across generations.