Personality Functioning and Parenting Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Parental Identity

Parental personality is a key determinant of parenting behaviors. Prior research has identified associations between parental identity dimensions (i.e., commitment, in-depth exploration, reconsideration of commitment) and both personality traits and parenting practices. However, the role of personality functioning in these relations remains underexplored, particularly from a dimensional perspective. The present cross-sectional study examined the impact of impairments in self (i.e., identity, self-direction) and interpersonal (i.e. empathy, intimacy) personality functioning on parenting behaviors, exploring the mediating role of parental identity in a community sample of 937 cisgender heterosexual parents (Mage = 41.80, SD = 7.48; 80.26% mothers) with children mean aged 9.16 years (SD = 5.22; 50.59% assigned female at birth). Structural equation modeling indicated that impairments in interpersonal functioning were directly associated with higher levels of parental rejection. Significant indirect effects also emerged: greater impairments in both self- and interpersonal functioning were linked to increased parental rejection via lower in-depth exploration and higher reconsideration of commitment. Additionally, self-functioning impairments were indirectly associated with greater parental rejection through reduced commitment. These findings underscore the mediating role of parental identity in the association between personality functioning and parenting, highlighting parental identity as a critical target for prevention and intervention efforts aimed at promoting healthier parent–child relationships.