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The Relation between Parenting Stress and Child Behavior Problems: Negative Parenting Styles as Mediator

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Abstract

Parenting young children could be stressful at times and parenting stress could have an impact on parenting styles and child behavior problems which could lead to difficulties in later life. Therefore, the relationship among these three factors is worthy of examination. In this study we aim to examine the direct relationship between parenting stress, parenting styles, and perceived child behavior problems; and to investigate a model that illustrates the mediating role of negative (authoritarian and permissive) parenting styles on the relationship between parenting stress and perceived child behavior problems in China. A total of 371 parents with preschool age children (3 to 7 years old) were recruited. The results showed higher level of parenting stress was associated with higher level of reported child behavior problems. Parenting stress was positively related to negative parenting styles, and negative parenting styles partially mediated the relationship between parenting stress and child behavior problems. Findings from this study suggested that reducing parenting stress, improving parenting behaviors such as parenting styles, and enhancing parent-child relationship through early support (e.g., parenting skills training) are of vital importance and mutual benefits to the parents, children, and family relationships at large.

Highlights

  • This study examines the relationships of parenting styles with parenting stress and child behavior problems in Chinese context.

  • Parenting stress was positively associated with child behavior problems.

  • Parenting stress was positively related to negative parenting styles.

  • Negative parenting styles partially mediated the relationship between parenting stress and child behavior problems.

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Funding

This study was funded by the University of Macau under the Multi-year Research Grant [MYRG2014-00169-FED].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Education, University of Macau, E33, Av. da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China

    Miranda Chi Kuan Mak, Lu Yin, Minghui Li & Pey-Tee Oon

  2. Department of Applied Psychology, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China

    Ray Yu-hin Cheung

Authors
  1. Miranda Chi Kuan Mak
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  2. Lu Yin
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  3. Minghui Li
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  4. Ray Yu-hin Cheung
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  5. Pey-Tee Oon
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Contributions

M.C.K.M.: Co-designed and co-executed the study with L.Y., conducted part of the data-analysis, and wrote the paper and edited the final manuscript. L.Y.: Co-designed and co-executed the study with M.C.K.M., conducted part of the data-analysis, and collaborated in the writing of the manuscript. M.L.: collaborated in the writing and editing of the final manuscript. R.Y.H.C.: conducted part of the data-analysis, and collaborated in the writing and editing of the final manuscript. P.T.O.: collaborated in the writing of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Miranda Chi Kuan Mak.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the University of Macau’s research ethics committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Mak, M.C.K., Yin, L., Li, M. et al. The Relation between Parenting Stress and Child Behavior Problems: Negative Parenting Styles as Mediator. J Child Fam Stud 29, 2993–3003 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-020-01785-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-020-01785-3

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