Openness to the World by Fathers and Mothers of Preschoolers in Two-parent Families

Abstract

Abstract The role of fostering Openness to the World (OW) refers to disciplinarian parenting behaviors that encourage children to take risks and persevere when facing challenges. This study aimed to characterize, compare, and define typologies of OW for fathers and mothers in southern Brazil. The Openness to the World Questionnaire was answered by 171 heteroaffective couples with preschool children. Inferential statistical analyzes indicated that mothers reported providing significantly more Stimulus to Perseverance than fathers. Eight different types of typologies of OW were identified: Activating Father/Mother, Protective Father/Mother, Reckless Father/Mother, Authoritarian Father, and Overprotective Mother. The analysis of these results allows us to conclude that there is a society transition process in which more traditional families (mothers responsible for the children’s education) coexist with others in which fathers and mothers play the role of fostering OW. Because of the benefits that OW brings to child development, it is suggested that it should be included in public policies that promote positive parenting.

Keywords

• paternal function
• parent-child relations
• mother-child relations
• preschoolers