Child temperament profiles and maternal parenting practices in Brazilian mother–child dyads: A cluster-analytic study with children aged 3 to 11 years
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31211/rpics.2026.12.1.386Keywords:
Childrearing Practices, Cluster Analysis, Mother–Child Relations, TemperamentAbstract
Background and Aim: Child temperament and parenting are reciprocally linked, yet evidence from Brazilian and Latin American contexts remains limited. This study examined associations between maternal parenting practices and child temperament in Brazilian families with children aged 3 to 11 years. Method: This quantitative, cross-sectional study used a comparative and person-centered analytic approach. A total of 229 mothers completed questionnaires assessing parenting dimensions (Coregulation, Positive Reinforcement Discipline, and Coercion) and child temperament (Surgency/Extraversion, Negative Affectivity, and Effortful Control). Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to derive temperament profiles. Results: No statistically significant sex differences emerged for temperament or maternal parenting dimensions. Hierarchical cluster analysis identified four temperament profiles. Maternal Coregulation and Positive Reinforcement Discipline did not differ significantly across profiles. In contrast, maternal Coercion differed significantly, with a small effect size; the highest Coercion scores occurred in the profile characterized by elevated Negative Affectivity and elevated Effortful Control. Conclusions: The findings are consistent with a transactional, profile-based interpretation of temperament–parenting associations and suggest that specific temperament configurations may be more informative for understanding coercive than supportive maternal practices. The results may inform culturally sensitive and developmentally differentiated parenting interventions in Brazilian contexts.
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