Parenting influence on the development of life history strategy

Using a newly developed measure of life history strategy, the influence of maternal and paternal sensitivity in childhood and maternal and paternal authoritative parenting in late adolescence on developing life history strategy was examined. Maternal sensitivity and maternal and paternal authoritative parenting were positively correlated with a slow LH strategy. Maternal sensitivity and maternal authoritative parenting each explained unique variance in life history strategy as measured in late adolescence. The results remained after controlling for ethnicity, sex, childhood SES, intelligence, and childhood temperament. Consistent with previous research and theory the results suggest that maternal sensitivity in early childhood affects the development of life history strategy. However, the results also suggest that significant post-pubertal plasticity in life history strategy development remains and that parental behavior continues to be influential in an individual's developing life history strategy.