Parental Type D Personality and Children’s Hyperactive Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Parent–Child Interactive Activities

This study explored the associations between parental Type D personality (TDP), parent–child interactive activities, and children’s hyperactive behaviors. Moreover, the study examined whether parent–child interactive activities mediated the associations between parental TDP and children’s hyperactive behaviors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among children from all kindergartens in a district of a southern city in China. Data on parental TDP, the frequency of parent–child interactive activities, children’s hyperactive behaviors, and socio-demographic characteristics were provided by 47,648 parent–child dyads. Multiple regression analysis was employed to assess the associations between parental TDP, parent–child interactive activities, and children’s hyperactive behaviors. Mediation analysis was applied to explore the mediating role of parent–child interactive activities on the associations between parental TDP and children’s hyperactive behaviors. Parental TDP was negatively associated with the frequency of parent–child interactive activities and positively associated with children’s hyperactive behaviors. The frequencies of parent–child interactive activities were negatively associated with children’s hyperactive behaviors. The frequency of parent–child interactive activities partially mediated the associations between parental TDP and children’s hyperactive behaviors. Future research may consider parental TDP and parent–child interactive activities as potential important predictors of hyperactive behaviors in children. Such research will help identify further targets for intervention to reduce hyperactive behaviors in children.