Interactions between infant characteristics and parenting factors rarely replicate across cohorts and developmental domains

• DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.14149
• Publication Date: 2025-03-11T04:03:26Z
• Authors: Robert Eves; Finiki Nearchou; Dieter Wolke; Michael Pluess; Sakari Lemola
• Keywords: Diathesis–stress model; Maternal sensitivity; Child rearing; Child Development

Background Whether, and how, infant characteristics parenting quality interact is one of developmental psychology's key questions. However, whether specific interaction patterns replicate across cohorts or outcomes largely unknown. This study investigates are independent predictors (additive effects) child such that certain infants particularly suffer from poor (diathesis stress), benefit good (vantage sensitivity) both (differential susceptibility). Methods Individual participant data over 30,000 children four prospective were pooled. Using a competitive‐confirmatory approach model evaluation, 16 possible permutations (temperament birthweight), (maternal‐reported stimulating sensitive parenting) later (fluid crystalised intelligence, internalising externalising behaviour) tested. The robustness results was evaluated by subsequently varying analytic methods, using alternative measures including observer reports excluding covariates. Results AIC values in 10/16 analyses indicated acted independently maternal‐reported for predicting outcomes. Interaction indicating diathesis stress (4/16), vantage sensitivity (2/16) differential susceptibility (0/16) rare absent. diathesis‐stress frequently found regarding birthweight behaviours, which robust to methodological changes. Conclusions Developmental more consistently explained additive effects rather than effects.