Mums and dads are more likely to copy their own mothers' parenting style, a new study has found.

UK researchers monitored the parenting style of 146 mothers and 146 fathers by filming them with their young children in their own homes. The participants also filled in questionnaires about the type of parenting they received as children.

The study found that mums and dads whose own mothers had been more affectionate were more likely to display positive parenting behaviour towards their own children.

Those whose own mothers were more controlling displayed more negative parenting behaviour towards their own children.

However, the behaviour of the participants' fathers did not appear to impact on how they parented their own children.

The researchers from Imperial College London noted that supportive parenting is linked with better academic achievement, social development and emotional stability. Harsh parenting on the other hand is linked with behaviour problems and aggression.

However until now, the extent to which this passed from one generation to the next was unclear.

"Parenting plays a fundamental role in children's development, affecting health, social and educational outcomes in later life, so it's of utmost importance to society that we have a greater understanding of the complex issue of parenting behaviour," the researchers said.

They added that the findings suggest that ‘interventions to help parents be more engaged and responsive could have longer-term benefits that aren't currently appreciated'.

Details of these findings are published in the European Journal of Public Health.