How far does the apple fall from the tree? A cross-sectional study of the relationship between child and parent self-regulation mediated by parenting practices

Self-regulation is a set of skills that are important for development across the life course. Unfortunately, most research in this area has been conducted in WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) countries, which limits our understanding of how these skills develop and can be promoted in other contexts, particularly in Eastern cultures. Adopting a self-regulation framework derived from social cognitive theory, this study aimed to examine the relationship between parent and child self-regulation and its connections with parenting practices in Indonesia. A cross-sectional study design was employed, with survey data collected from 396 Indonesian parents (77.3% mothers; M age = 36.1 years) of typically developing 3–12-year-old children. Path analysis revealed a positive association between parent self-regulation and child self-regulation, which was partially mediated by parenting practices. Among parenting practices, the parent–child relationship and coercive parenting were found to be significantly associated with child self-regulation. The findings emphasize the crucial role of a nurturing environment in cultivating children’s self-regulation, which will shape their life trajectories. Insights into strategies to facilitate child self-regulation development within the specific cultural context of Indonesia are also discussed.