Prenatal beliefs regarding child development as predictors of toddler compliance: Indirect associations via harsh and nonharsh parental control.

This study demonstrates that beliefs expectant mothers hold regarding the motivations underlying child development predict their postnatal tendencies to implement controlling parenting practices. These practices, in turn, are negatively associated with child compliance with parental directives. Our findings suggest that parenting interventions could be introduced even before childbirth, with the aim of recognizing and addressing prenatal beliefs known to undermine effective parenting and adaptive child behavior.