Authoritarian parenting at 4.5 years predicts children's cheating at 6 years

Cheating is common in early childhood. However, limited empirical studies have explored the mechanism underlying the role of parenting in children's cheating. This study (N = 479 Singaporean families; 219 female children; 55% Chinese, 27% Malay, 18% Indian; data collected between July 2014 and April 2017) examined whether and how authoritarian parenting at 4.5 years predicted children's cheating 1.5 years later. When children were 4.5 years old, their self-criticism was assessed through the Etch-a-Sketch task, and mothers reported on both parents' authoritarian parenting. At age 6, cheating was assessed using the Dart Game. Results showed that paternal authoritarian parenting predicted a higher likelihood of cheating, mediated by children's self-criticism. Our findings can provide insights into promoting honesty within family environments.