Parental non-cognitive abilities and child mental health

Parents play a crucial role in the mental health and development of their children. This study investigates the impact of parental non-cognitive abilities on the mental health of their children. Our findings show that parental non-cognitive abilities, especially conscientiousness, agreeableness, and neuroticism, positively influence child mental health. This effect varies based on the child’s gender and place of residence. Moreover, disparities in non-cognitive abilities between the father and mother yield a significant negative effect on child mental health. These effects can be ascribed to three primary channels: the influence of parental non-cognitive abilities on the child’s sense of happiness, confidence in the future, and the level of interpersonal communication skills. Furthermore, our findings suggest that cognitive abilities of parents can moderate the influence of their non-cognitive abilities on the mental health of their children.