REVIEW
A meta-analysis on observed paternal and maternal sensitivity
Audrey-Ann Deneault,
Natasha J. Cabrera,
Jean-François Bureau,
Corresponding Author
Audrey-Ann Deneault
Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Correspondence
Audrey-Ann Deneault, Department of Psychology University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorNatasha J. Cabrera
Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
Search for more papers by this authorJean-François Bureau
School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Search for more papers by this authorAudrey-Ann Deneault,
Natasha J. Cabrera,
Jean-François Bureau,
Corresponding Author
Audrey-Ann Deneault
Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Correspondence
Audrey-Ann Deneault, Department of Psychology University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorNatasha J. Cabrera
Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
Search for more papers by this authorJean-François Bureau
School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Two meta-analyses were conducted (N = 10,980 child–father dyads) with 93 studies published between 1983–2020, primarily in North America and Europe, on observed parental sensitivity to children (3–180 months; 48% girls; 14% non-White) in partnered mothers and fathers. The first meta-analysis found higher maternal mean levels of observed sensitivity, with a small effect size (d = −.27). Differences between parents were larger with micro coding and triadic/family assessments. Differences narrowed as a function of publication year and were not significant in European samples. The second meta-analysis identified a moderate correlation between observed maternal and paternal sensitivity (r = .23 after adjusting for probable publication bias). Correlations were larger in Middle Eastern samples and with composite sensitivity scales.
Supporting Information
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Appendix S1. |
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