Interparental agreement, parent-child responsiveness, and children's peer competence

This study examined associations between interparental agreement, parent-ch ild responsiveness, and children's social competence with peers. Assessment s of interparental agreement among 33 parenting dyads were based on (a) par ental agreement oil beliefs about the use of control in childrearing, and ( b) parental similarity in the use of initiations during play with child. Pa rent-child responsiveness was assessed by subjective ratings of parent-chil d play interaction. Teachers and peers provided assessments of children's s ocial competence. Associations were found between parental agreement in bel iefs about control and parental similarity in the use of control with child , Parental agreement on beliefs about the use of control and parental simil arity in the use of control were both positively associated with children's social competence. Parent-child responsiveness also was positively associa ted with children's social competence. Associations between agreement measu res and children's social competence were partially mediated by parent-chil d responsiveness. Implications for research and practice are discussed.