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Cullen, David (2025) Exploring the Relationship Between Parental Personality Traits, Family Functioning, and Parent-Child Play. Undergraduate thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.
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Abstract
This study explored the relationship between parental personality traits (as categorized by the Big Five Model), family functioning and parent-child play with the addition of demographic factors. The Parent Play Questionnaire was used to assess parental involvement, attitudes and digital media use. Early research into personality traits has shown the positive and negative associations related to each trait on life success, psychopathology, and on family life, including parenting techniques. This current investigation used a quantitative approach, utilizing a survey distributed throughout the general population n=108. Multiple regression analyses were performed, and several significant findings were revealed. Parental age was the strongest predictor of negative outcomes in all regression models which included attitudes towards play, overall play interactions and family functioning, suggesting older parental age is significantly linked to poorer outcomes. Agreeableness significantly predicted positive attitudes towards play as did Conscientiousness. For overall play interactions Conscientiousness predicted positive play interactions and involvement. Neuroticism significantly predicted poorer family functioning outcomes along with age. Higher income was positively associated with better family functioning. The overall strong significant finding between age and the dependent variables suggests the need for parental supports in older age parents to encourage play engagement. Future research could implement a longitudinal approach to assess the long-term effects of delayed childbearing, with the addition of a larger sample size and diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Undergraduate) |
|---|---|
| Supervisors: | Name Email Coughlan, Barry UNSPECIFIED |
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology > Child psychology B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology > Stress (Psychology) |
| Divisions: | School of Business (- 2025) > BA (Honours) in Psychology |
| Depositing User: | Ciara O'Brien |
| Date Deposited: | 07 Nov 2025 13:54 |
| Last Modified: | 07 Nov 2025 13:54 |
| URI: | https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/8887 |
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