Relations among Toddlers ' Temperament, Maternal Parenting, and Social Withdrawal and Aggression

This study examined the relations among toddlers ' temperament, maternal parenting, and toddlers ' social withdrawal and aggression. One hundred and two mothers of two-year-old children (49 boys and 53 girls) completed questionnaires and Q-sort. Data were analyzed by correlation analyses and regression analyses. First, toddlers ' pleasure was negatively related to social withdrawal, while social fearfulness was positively related to social withdrawal. Also, toddlers ' activity level and anger proneness were positively related to aggression. Second, the encouragement of independence in maternal parenting was negatively linked to toddlers ' social withdrawal, and maternal rejection was positively linked to toddlers ' aggression. Third, toddlers ' pleasure and interest/persistence were positively associated with mothers ' encouragement of independence, and toddlers ' activity level and anger proneness were positively associated with mothers ' rejection. Finally, mothers ' encouragement of independence acted as a mediator between toddlers ' pleasure and social withdrawal. Also, toddlers ' activity level and anger proneness influenced aggression through maternal rejection. These results indicate that toddlers ' temperament and maternal parenting play crucia