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Background <p>Early callous-unemotional (CU) traits have been linked to both child temperament and parenting factors. Little is known however about how these factors interact in the very early childhood period, and differences between mothers and fathers.</p> Objective <p>This study examined whether the associations among child temperament (social affiliation and fearlessness) and parental social-cognitive factors (caregiving representations, parental reflective functioning) were associated with child CU traits, and whether these associations were moderated by parent gender.</p> Methods <p>Parents (mothers, <i>n</i> = 207; fathers, <i>n</i> = 203) of toddlers (<i>M</i>age = 28.01 months) completed online measures of caregiving representations, reflective functioning, child temperament, and child CU traits. Hierarchical regression models were used to test predictors of CU traits and moderation effects. A series of linear models were conducted to assess the effects of parent gender.</p> Results <p>Lower child social affiliation, but not fearlessness, predicted greater CU traits. Lower caregiver emotion and affection and greater caregiver helplessness uniquely predicted CU traits. Lower fearlessness was associated with higher CU traits, and this link was stronger at low levels of caregiver emotion and affection. Analyses by parent gender revealed that among fathers (but not mothers), fearlessness was positively associated with CU traits at low levels of caregiver empathy and understanding and high levels of emotion and affection.</p> Conclusions <p>Reduced social affiliation, and lower caregiver emotion and affection and greater helplessness caregiver representations may play a meaningful role in the early emergence of CU traits. Among more fearful children, parental emotion and affection may confer risk of CU traits. Parent gender differences further suggest that paternal emotion and empathy may further shape these associations and highlight the need for identifying nuanced parenting-related risk factors and tailored early parent-focused prevention targets for children at risk of CU traits.</p>

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Child Temperament, Caregiving Representations, and Parental Reflective Functioning: Links with Callous-Unemotional Traits in Toddlers

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月29日

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  • Vivian Chau,
  • Valsamma Eapen,
  • Erinn Hawkins,
  • Jane Kohlhoff

摘要

Background

Early callous-unemotional (CU) traits have been linked to both child temperament and parenting factors. Little is known however about how these factors interact in the very early childhood period, and differences between mothers and fathers.

Objective

This study examined whether the associations among child temperament (social affiliation and fearlessness) and parental social-cognitive factors (caregiving representations, parental reflective functioning) were associated with child CU traits, and whether these associations were moderated by parent gender.

Methods

Parents (mothers, n = 207; fathers, n = 203) of toddlers (Mage = 28.01 months) completed online measures of caregiving representations, reflective functioning, child temperament, and child CU traits. Hierarchical regression models were used to test predictors of CU traits and moderation effects. A series of linear models were conducted to assess the effects of parent gender.

Results

Lower child social affiliation, but not fearlessness, predicted greater CU traits. Lower caregiver emotion and affection and greater caregiver helplessness uniquely predicted CU traits. Lower fearlessness was associated with higher CU traits, and this link was stronger at low levels of caregiver emotion and affection. Analyses by parent gender revealed that among fathers (but not mothers), fearlessness was positively associated with CU traits at low levels of caregiver empathy and understanding and high levels of emotion and affection.

Conclusions

Reduced social affiliation, and lower caregiver emotion and affection and greater helplessness caregiver representations may play a meaningful role in the early emergence of CU traits. Among more fearful children, parental emotion and affection may confer risk of CU traits. Parent gender differences further suggest that paternal emotion and empathy may further shape these associations and highlight the need for identifying nuanced parenting-related risk factors and tailored early parent-focused prevention targets for children at risk of CU traits.