Differences in Retrospective Perceptions of Parenting of Male and Female Inmates and Non‐Inmates*

Differences in Retrospective Perceptions of Parenting of Male and Female Inmates and Non-Inmates* One hundred twenty-eight inmates and 337 non-inmates completed parenting questionnaires that assessed retrospective perceptions of their fathers' and mothers' authoritative, authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive parenting styles, as well as the stylistic dimensions found within the three styles. Inmates reported higher incidence than non-inmates of both authoritarian and permissive parenting styles and dimensions, and lower incidence of the authoritative parenting style and dimensions. Significant interactions between inmate status and parent gender and child gender were also found. Recommendations for family life educators in prison settings are outlined. Key Words: family life education immatey, parenting. The study of the relationship between parenting and child behavioral outcomes has been of paramount interest to researchers for decades (Hart, Olsen, Robinson, & Mandleco, 1997). Because family experiences play a prominent role in predicting some antisocial behavioral outcomes (Barber & Olsen, 1997), parenting styles have often been studied in connection with delinquency. Research has primarily concentrated on the relationship between parenting and childhood or adolescent delinquency (Simons, Whitbeck, Conger, & Conger, 1991; Steinberg, Lamborn, Darling, Mounts, & Dornbusch, 1994; Wasserman, Miller, Pinner, & Jaramillo, 1996), but little is known about how adult offenders have been parented. Previous research has also focused mainly on global typologies or styles of parenting, while little attention has been given to the unique effects of specific stylistic dimensions found within individual parenting styles (Barber, 1996; Darling & Steinberg, 1993). Past studies have shown that parenting styles differ depending on parent and child gender (Collins & Russell, 1991; Lytton & Romney, 1991; Russell et al., 1998); however, no studies have investigated how gender of parent or child is related to parenting of inmates. This study extends the current literature by examining differences in how inmates and non-inmates were parented. Perceptions of adult offenders and non-offenders regarding parenting styles and stylistic dimensions used in their families of origin were compared. Additionally, this research investigates how inmate status in conjunction with parent or child gender may relate to parenting styles and stylistic dimensions. Parenting Styles, Stylistic Dimensions, and Deviant Behavioral Outcomes A major purpose of this study was to examine adult offenders' perceptions of the parenting they received in their families of origin. A substantial body of research indicates that both positive and negative parenting practices may be transmitted across generations (cf. Olsen, Martin, & Halverson, 1999). Much previous research, however, has focused on adults who are nonoffenders and their perceptions regarding their fathers' and mothers* parenting (Simons, Whitbeck, Conger, & Chyi-In, 1991; Whitbeck et al., 1992; Whitbeck, Hoyt, & Huck, 1993). Although there is a dearth of literature specifically addressing how adult offenders have been parented, there is ample research providing consistent evidence that parenting styles are related to delinquent behavioral outcomes in children and adolescents (Dishion, Patterson, Stoolmiller, & Skinner, 1991; Steinberg, et al., 1994). In the past two decades, much of the research involving parenting has included three major typologies, or styles: author2000, Vol. 49, No. I itative, authoritarian, and permissive (Baumrind,, 1971). Studies based on these three styles have consistently yielded results indicating that these parenting styles are shown to enhance or mitigate optimal behavioral outcomes in children (Hart, et al., 1997). For example, authoritative parenting has been associated with positive behavioral outcomes including increased competence, autonomy and self-esteem (Steinberg et. …