Childhood traumas and their relationships with their children as predictors of parents' parenting styles

This study, titled "Factors Influencing Parenting Attitudes: Childhood Traumas and Contemporary Parent–Child Relationships," examines the impact of parents' childhood traumas (CTEs) on their parenting attitudes and explores how these attitudes are shaped within the context of the parent–child relationship. It examines the relationship between parents' attitudes toward their children and their own traumatic experiences during childhood. Additionally, the study evaluates the influence of the quality of the parent–child relationship on parenting styles and analyzes how demographic variables—such as gender, age, marital status, education level, and income—contribute to variations in parenting attitudes. The research was conducted with the participation of 372 parents. Utilizing quantitative research methods, multiple regression analysis, ANOVA, and post-hoc tests were performed to assess the relationships between parenting attitudes and the independent variables. The findings revealed that childhood traumas tend to increase authoritarian and protective parenting attitudes, while their influence on democratic attitudes varies. Notably, experiences of physical neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional neglect were identified as significant determinants of parenting styles. The study also found a direct association between the quality of the parent–child relationship and parenting attitudes: a positive relationship supports a democratic parenting style, whereas conflict tends to reinforce authoritarian attitudes. In terms of demographic variables, mothers were more likely to exhibit democratic attitudes, while fathers were more inclined toward authoritarian styles. Parents aged 30–39 were found to exhibit more democratic attitudes; those aged 60 and above tended to be more authoritarian; and individuals aged 40–49 and 50–59 displayed more protective tendencies. While marital status and income level did not yield significant differences, educational background did: parents with only a primary education were more likely to demonstrate protective attitudes. In conclusion, childhood traumas appear to exert lasting effects on parenting styles; however, the quality of the parent–child relationship plays a critical role in shaping these outcomes. Accordingly, it is recommended to increase the availability of psychoeducational programs and supportive interventions aimed at helping parents recognize the impact of their traumatic pasts, enhance their parenting skills, and strengthen family communication.