The Relationship of Temperament and Character Dimensions to Perceived Parenting Styles in Childhood: A Study of a Japanese University Student Population

To examine the association between perceived parenting styles in childhood and temperament and character dimensions in adolescence and early adulthood, 836 college students in Japan were assessed using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and the Parental Bonding Questionnaire (PBI). A path analysis revealed that Novelty Seeking and Harm Avoidance were associated with low Self-Directedness and low Cooperativeness; Novelty Seeking, Reward Dependence, and Persistence were associated with Self-Transcendence; and Reward Dependence was associated with Cooperativeness. It also showed that Perceived Parenting (parents' high Care and low Overprotection) was associated with low Harm Avoidance and high Persistence, and was directly associated with Self-Directedness, Cooperativeness, and low Self-Transcendence. These findings suggest that perceived parenting styles are more associated with character dimensions than temperament dimensions. This link was direct or indirect via temperament dimensions.