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The Child-Parent Relationship Scale (CPRS) was used to describe the stability and consistency of parents' perceptions of their relationships with their children (N = 563) across 3 years during the preschool to elementary school period for children enrolled in the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. Research questions pertained to stability of ratings and differences in reports for gender of parent and child. Another goal of the study was to further examine the psychometric properties of the CPRS, a 15-item self-report instrument assessing relational conflict and closeness. Maternal and paternal ratings of closeness and conflict were somewhat stable across this period. Mothers reported higher levels of closeness and conflict with both boys and girls at both 54 months and first grade than did fathers. Consistency between mothers' and fathers' reports was moderate and was higher for conflict than for closeness. Levels of parent agreement were dependent upon the gender of the child. Fathers reported more closeness with daughters than with sons, and they experienced an increase in their feelings of closeness with their children during this period, relative to mothers. Results are discussed in light of research on parent-child relationships and parents' perceptions. It is important to note that findings from this study reflect data collected from families with both a mother and father present during this 3-year period.
The quality of the relational bond between parent and child affects children's emotional development, school performance, and social growth. Parents perceive their relationships with their children in a variety of ways and numerous researchers have attempted to assess these connections. This study investigated the stability of mothers' and fathers' perceptions of parent-child relationships with sons and daughters across 3 years during the transition to school. This study describes stability and patterns of parents' perceptions across time, gender, and informant in terms of dimensions of relational conflict and closeness. The results have implications for understanding how parents have different relational experiences with sons and daughters.
Parent-Child Relationships and Child Development
The following section reviews current literature on parent-child relationships as they relate to children's emotional, academic, and social outcomes. The relationship between a child and his or her parents forms a foundation for all other interpersonal relationships. Bowlby (1982) suggested that parents'...