Objective assessment of parenting styles and expectations of couples with young children

The purposes of the present study were to determine the frequency of parenting styles in couples with same style versus different style, to analyze differences between these groups, and to explore their parental expectations. A demandingness-responsiveness model was chosen, and it was operationalized by means of an objective measure of discipline and nurturing practices. In the study participated 485 couples with young children. Results revealed more indulgent parents in couples with the same style. Among parents who didn't share parenting style, there were more authoritarian mothers and more authoritative fathers. Authoritative couples, with the exception of indulgent couples, had more nurturing practices and the highest developmental expectations among styles and groups. This study highlights the need of more Latin-American research.