Journal article
Parental sensory processing patterns and parenting: a systematic review
Frontiers in Developmental Psychology, Vol.4, pp.1-31
2026
Abstract
Introduction: Parenting is known to substantially influence children's developmental, mental health, and relational outcomes. The capacity to parent in a responsive, attuned way is underpinned by parental mental health and wellbeing, which has, in turn, been linked with parents' sensory processing patterns (i.e., how an individual uniquely receives, interprets, and responds to sensory input), which can vary from typical to over- or under-responsive. Although primary studies report associations between parental sensory processing and parenting, these findings have not been systematically synthesized. This systematic review addresses the question: what are the known associations between parental sensory processing and parenting characteristics?
Methods: This systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024490846) and reported in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus, PubMed, and PsycNet databases were searched for relevant primary articles, published in English within peer-reviewed journals. Included studies were appraised using the Quality Assessment with Diverse Studies (QuADS) tool and underwent narrative synthesis.
Results: Twenty-four studies were included, ranging from moderate (29/39) to high (38/39) quality, with a mean score of 33.5/39 (86%). Sensory over responsivity was consistently linked to elevated emotional strain in caregiving, heightened susceptibility to stress, and more reactive, intrusive, or inconsistent parenting behaviors, alongside high attunement to their child. Sensory under responsivity showed patterns of reduced behavioral activation, lower perceived parenting competence, and difficulties initiating or sustaining caregiving tasks. Sensory seeking tendencies were more often associated with positive parenting experiences, including higher engagement with the sensory aspects of pregnancy and parenting, although they were sometimes paired with reduced behavioral monitoring.
Discussion: Considering parents' sensory profiles may be valuable when supporting families, especially if parents have atypical sensory processing patterns. These insights underscore the potential utility of sensory-informed approaches for parents and may inform further research on specific sensory strategies to support optimal parenting and, ultimately, child outcomes.
Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024490846
Details
- Title
- Parental sensory processing patterns and parenting: a systematic review
- Authors
- Megan McClenaghan - University of the Sunshine CoastGrace Branjerdporn (Corresponding Author) - Mater Misericordiae HospitalCharlotte Scott - Mater ResearchKerri M. Gillespie - Mater ResearchPamela Meredith - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Publication details
- Frontiers in Developmental Psychology, Vol.4, pp.1-31
- Publisher
- Frontiers Research Foundation
- Date published
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.3389/fdpys.2026.1842441
- ISSN
- 2813-7779
- Copyright note
- © 2026 McClenaghan, Branjerdporn, Scott, Gillespie and Meredith. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
- Data Availability
- The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and its Supplementary materials. No new raw data were created during this study.
- Grant note
- Mater Foundation
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Occupational Therapy; Cancer Research Cluster
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991242586702621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
1 Record Views