What the study found
The study found that parents’ family-of-origin invalidation experiences were grouped into three profiles: effective parents’ family-of-origin, father-invalidating family, and both-invalidating family. The father-invalidating and both-invalidating profiles were associated with lower children’s prosocial behavior in certain emotion-coping contexts.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that the findings highlight distinct pathways linking invalidating family-of-origin dynamics to children’s prosocial development. They also say the results support the tripartite model of family influence and offer culturally relevant insights for fostering prosocial behavior in children.
What the researchers tested
The researchers conducted a six-month longitudinal study with 837 families in Shanghai, China. They examined children aged 31–83 months and analyzed how parents’ family-of-origin experiences related to children’s prosocial behavior through parental emotion coping styles.
What worked and what didn't
Compared with the effective parents’ family-of-origin profile, both the father-invalidating family profile and the both-invalidating family profile were associated with lower levels of children’s prosocial behavior when the spouse showed higher non-supportive and lower supportive emotion coping styles. The both-invalidating family profile was also associated with lower prosocial behavior when parents themselves showed lower supportive coping styles, and this association appeared stronger than for the father-invalidating family profile.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe limitations in detail. The study was conducted in Shanghai, China, with young children aged 31–83 months, so the summary is limited to that sample and context.
Key points
- Parents’ family-of-origin invalidation experiences fell into three profiles.
- Father-invalidating and both-invalidating profiles were linked to lower child prosocial behavior in some coping contexts.
- Spouses’ higher non-supportive and lower supportive coping styles were part of the associations.
- The both-invalidating profile was also linked to lower prosocial behavior when parents themselves showed lower supportive coping.
- The study used a six-month longitudinal design with 837 families in Shanghai.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Family-of-origin invalidation linked to lower child prosocial behavior
- Authors:
- Youli Wang, Honghuan Fang, Baocheng Pan, Jingkai Sun, Ziyi Feng, Bijing Ren, Keman Yuan, Pin Xu, Bowen Xiao, Yan Li
- Institutions:
- Carleton University, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai Normal University
- Publication date:
- 2026-02-27
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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