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Gender-Differentiated Parenting Revisited: Meta-Analysis Reveals Very Few Differences in Parental Control of Boys and Girls

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  • Joyce J Endendijk
  • Marleen G Groeneveld
  • Marian J Bakermans-Kranenburg
  • Judi Mesman

Abstract

Although various theories describe mechanisms leading to differential parenting of boys and girls, there is no consensus about the extent to which parents do treat their sons and daughters differently. The last meta-analyses on the subject were conducted more than fifteen years ago, and changes in gender-specific child rearing in the past decade are quite plausible. In the current set of meta-analyses, based on 126 observational studies (15,034 families), we examined mothers’ and fathers’ differential use of autonomy-supportive and controlling strategies with boys and girls, and the role of moderators related to the decade in which the study was conducted, the observational context, and sample characteristics. Databases of Web of Science, ERIC, PsychInfo, Online Contents, Picarta, and Proquest were searched for studies examining differences in observed parental control of boys and girls between the ages of 0 and 18 years. Few differences were found in parents’ use of control with boys and girls. Parents were slightly more controlling with boys than with girls, but the effect size was negligible (d = 0.08). The effect was larger, but still small, in normative groups and in samples with younger children. No overall effect for gender-differentiated autonomy-supportive strategies was found (d = 0.03). A significant effect of time emerged: studies published in the 1970s and 1980s reported more autonomy-supportive strategies with boys than toward girls, but from 1990 onwards parents showed somewhat more autonomy-supportive strategies with girls than toward boys. Taking into account parents’ gender stereotypes might uncover subgroups of families where gender-differentiated control is salient, but based on our systematic review of the currently available large data base we conclude that in general the differences between parenting of boys versus girls are minimal.

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  • Joyce J Endendijk & Marleen G Groeneveld & Marian J Bakermans-Kranenburg & Judi Mesman, 2016. "Gender-Differentiated Parenting Revisited: Meta-Analysis Reveals Very Few Differences in Parental Control of Boys and Girls," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(7), pages 1-33, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0159193
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159193
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    8. Livvy Mitchell & Isabelle Sin & Maanaima Soa-Lafoai & Colleen Ward, 2022. "Gendered parenting and the intergenerational transmission of gendered stereotypes: Evidence from the Growing Up in New Zealand survey," Working Papers 22_10, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research.
    9. Chan, Yau Yu & Li, Jian-Bin, 2020. "An early look at parental expectation towards early childhood education among Pakistani parents in Hong Kong: The role of culture and acculturation," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    10. Stuti S. Kokkalera & Chris E. Marshall & Ineke Haen Marshall, 2018. "The Role of Parental Maltreatment and Parental Social Control on Self-Reported Violent Offending in Indonesia and the U.S.: Does Gender Make a Difference?," Societies, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-25, May.
    11. Wang, Jing & Liu, Mingjia & Zhou, Zongkui & Li, Qingqing, 2024. "The reciprocal relations between perceived attachment to parents and Self-Concept clarity in adolescence," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    12. Elias P. Kourkoutas & Stefanos G. Giakoumatos, 2023. "Statistical analysis and evaluation of Greek students’ background determinants on Science literacy," Journal of Statistical and Econometric Methods, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 12(2), pages 1-2.
    13. Tine Steenhoff & Anne Tharner & Mette Skovgaard Væver, 2019. "Mothers' and fathers' observed interaction with preschoolers: Similarities and differences in parenting behavior in a well-resourced sample," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(8), pages 1-25, August.
    14. David Montero-Montero & Paula López-Martínez & Belén Martínez-Ferrer & David Moreno-Ruiz, 2020. "Parenting Dimensions and Adolescent Peer Aggression: A Gendered Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-15, August.
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