Aggression in toddlers: Associations with parenting and marital relations

This study examined the relation among parenting factors, marital relations , and toddler aggression. A structured questionnaire was administered to bo th parents of 254 2-year-olds. The authors used correlation and hierarchica l multiple regression analyses to assess the extent to which certain person ality traits, drug use, parenting style, and marital conflicts were related to the toddlers' aggressive behavior. Results showed that the maternal chi ld-rearing and parental aggression domains had a direct effect on toddler a ggression. The domain of maternal child rearing also served as a mediator f or the domains of marital relations, paternal child rearing, parental aggre ssion, and parental drug use. The findings indicated that maternal child-re aring practices, personality attributes, and drug use were more important t han paternal attributes in relation to toddler aggression. Implications for prevention among families at risk are discussed.