Association between Parenting Styles and Adolescents' Mental Disorders: Findings among Pre-University Students.

Background: Existing research indicated a high prevalence of mental health issues among adolescents. Gender and parenting styles are two factors that may influence adolescents' mental health. Nonetheless, most published studies focused on either secondary school or university students. In contrast, there is a dearth of similar research involving pre-university students. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of mental disorders among pre-university students and their association with parenting styles. Methods: A cross-sectional study via online questionnaire survey was conducted among students from a pre-university college on the East Coast of Malaysia. Convenience sampling was used to recruit the participants. The questionnaire consisted of three parts: i) sociodemographic data, ii) the Parental Authority Questionnaire and Depression, and iii) the Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). An online invitation to answer the questionnaire was done via the Student Representative Council (SRC). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson's chi-square test. Results: A total of 431 participants responded to the online survey. The prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress was 49.0% (n = 210), 68.0% (n = 293) and 37.6% (n = 162), respectively. In addition, father's educational level (χ2 = 10.332, P = 0.001) and the authoritarian parenting style (χ2 = 10.099, P = 0.006) were significantly associated with mental health disorders among adolescents. Conclusion: The prevalence of mental disorders among pre-university students is relatively high. Pre-university admission mental health screening is vital for early detection and intervention of mental disorders among this vulnerable group. Further research is imperative to establish a comprehensive plan of action that targets parental involvement in managing adolescent mental health disorders.

Explaining the Parenting Styles of Epileptic Children: A Content Analysis.

Objectives: Understanding the parenting practices of parents of children with epilepsy can be a practical guide for care and education planners to prevent mental disorders in these children. This study aimed to explain the parenting practices of parents of children with epilepsy in Shahrekord. Materials & Methods: This study is a qualitative study with conventional content analysis. Participants in the study consisted of 20 mothers with epileptic children in Shahrekord, who were included in the study by purposive sampling method with maximum variance in terms of child age, number of family children, and child sex. The data collection method was a semi-structured interview using the interview guide. Data analysis was performed using a conventional content analysis at the same time as data collection. Interviews continued until data saturation was reached. Results: The present study revealed five main themes in discipline methods, including over-support / over-protection, forcing to support, rejecting, parental conflict in discipline methods, and using harmful discipline methods. Conclusion: In conclusion, the experiences of mothers in the present study show that using inappropriate discipline methods can have adverse effects on the mental-emotional and social health of the child in the future and raise the need to design educational interventions to empower parents of epileptic children in coping with parenting stress effectively.

Relations between maternal parenting styles and callous-unemotional behavior in Chinese children: A longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies on maternal parenting styles and children's callous-unemotional behavior (CU behavior) have focused on the West, and few studies have examined the longitudinal relationship between maternal parenting styles and CU behavior using Chinese preschoolers as subjects. OBJECTIVE: Through a 1.5-year longitudinal lens, this study probed the relations between maternal parenting styles and CU behavior in the Chinese cultural setting. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were N = 492 Chinese young children (Mage = 52.44 months, SD = 5.00, 48 % girls). METHODS: At Time 1 (T1), mothers reported their use of authoritative parenting styles (i.e., warmth, reasoning, and autonomy), authoritarian parenting styles (i.e., physical coercion, verbal hostility, and nonreasoning) and children's CU behavior. At Time 2 (T2; approximately 1.5 years later), mothers again reported the above variables. RESULTS: Cross-lagged models indicated that maternal warmth, reasoning, autonomy, and nonreasoning at T1 predicted CU behavior at T2. However, not only did maternal physical coercion and verbal hostility at T1 predict CU behavior at T2, but CU behavior at T1 also predicted maternal physical coercion and verbal hostility at T2. Additionally, there were no gender differences in the relationship between dimensions of maternal parenting styles and CU behavior. CONCLUSIONS: It underscores the influence of authoritative parenting in potentially mitigating CU behavior, while authoritarian approaches may exacerbate CU behavior. The absence of gender differences suggests these dynamics are broadly applicable across genders. These findings have significant implications for parenting strategies aimed at addressing CU behavior in children, emphasizing the need for warmth, reasoning, and autonomy in parenting practices.

Nurturing Sustainable Development: The Interplay of Parenting Styles and SDGs in Children's Development.

This study delves into the dynamics of parenting styles and their impact on the cognitive and social-affective development of children within diverse family populations, contextualized within the framework of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Drawing from a sample population comprising families from various socio-economic backgrounds and cultural contexts, the research explores the nuanced interactions between parenting approaches-ranging from authoritarian/permissive to democratic-and children's developmental trajectories. By examining families with different numbers of children, this study elucidates the differential effects of parenting styles on cognitive adaptability and social-emotional skills across varying family structures. Democratic parenting emerges as a critical factor in promoting children's well-being, equitable access to education, and the fostering of peaceful societies, aligning with SDGs 3, 4, and 16. Furthermore, the research addresses disparities in child development outcomes, shedding light on issues of gender equality (SDG 5) and reduced inequalities (SDG 10) within the context of family dynamics. Through a comprehensive analysis of diverse family populations, this study underscores the significance of inclusive and nurturing parenting practices in advancing sustainable development objectives, advocating for collaborative efforts (SDG 17) to support families in fostering optimal child development outcomes for all.

A Psychometric Examination of the Abbreviated Version of the Parenting Styles Scale Using a Sample of Chilean Adolescents.

Parenting styles have been related to a series of variables that contribute positively to adulthood. The maternal and paternal parenting styles scale is a measure that presents a multidimensional structure of six correlated factors. However, the version available for Chile is extensive, with 82 items measuring this latent trait. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the reliability and validity of the abbreviated version of the maternal and paternal parenting styles scale using a sample of Chilean adolescents. The sample consisted of 2131 students of both the male and female sexes (51% males and 49% females) with a mean age of 15.85 years (SD = 1.37). The results of the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported the six-factor correlated model, showing robust psychometric indices for both modelling approaches. In relation to the factorial invariance models, the results show factorial equivalence at the scalar invariance level for the variables of sex, age, academic achievement, and type of school. The scale showed adequate levels of reliability. This study concludes that the abbreviated version of the maternal and paternal parenting styles scale is a reliable and valid instrument for its application in Chilean adolescents.

Relationship between Parenting Educational Styles and Well-Being in Families with Autistic Children: A Systematic Review.

The prevalence of diagnosed cases of autism has increased rapidly, which has raised interest in studying the variables related to the well-being of these families. The purpose of this paper is to review the recent literature on other variables related to family well-being, such as parenting styles. We conducted a systematic review using the PRISMA check list and bias assessment with the aim of analyzing if the concepts of autism, well-being and parenting style are related. We screened 755 references from relevant databases like Scopus, Pubmed, PscyInfo EBSCO, Web of Science and Dialnet, updated on May 2024. Sixteen full text articles and abstracts were read. It was identified that the authoritative parenting style, as well as those based on warmth, establishing relationships and emotional bonding, and low expressed emotion were positively related to family well-being. On the other hand, authoritarian, permissive and overprotective styles, as well as critical, punishing and training-based, were negatively associated with well-being and quality of family life.

Relationship between Parenting Styles and Tendency to Addiction in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Various factors are involved in the initiation of drug abuse, such as genetic and social factors. Among the factors that can be mentioned in associated with the tendency to addiction in children is the role of family prediction. This study aimed to explore the relationship between parenting styles and addiction tendency in Iran. Methods: We searched Persian database included Magiran, SID, IranDoc and Noormagz for articles from 2007- 2022 in Iran. Seven articles with 1734 subjects were ultimately included in the qualitative and quantitative syntheses. Five subscales (parenting method) were brought up for investigation of the relationship between parenting styles and addiction tendency. The pooled odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for each associated factors using random-effects/fixed-effects models. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plot and the Eggers test and each effect size was calculated manually. Results: Based on Cohen's interpretation criterion are as follow: the mean effect size of the relationship with the permissive style is 0.33 (average), the mean effect size of the relationship with authoritative style is 0.31 (average), the mean effect size of the relationship with the dependent style is 0.28 (average), the mean effect size of the relationship with the freedom-control is - 0.02 (small), the mean effect size of the relationship with the method based on affection-rejection is 0.33 (moderate). Conclusion: Parenting styles have a significant relationship with addiction tendencies in Iran. Therefore, appropriate programs can be provided to strengthen and educate the correct and suitable parenting methods with their children as safe as possible in order to avoid risky behaviors and injuries such as addiction.

Parenting styles and psychological effects on children with alopecia areata: exploring family dynamics, anxiety, and depression.

Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease that develops due to inflammation and causes sudden hair loss. Ithas been observed that family circumstances may contribute to the development of AA. This study aims to assessthe relationship between the development of alopecia areata in children, family functions, and depression andanxiety levels in their parents.Thirty-nine participants diagnosed with AA and 41 healthy controls (HC), agedbetween 8 and 18 years, and their parents participated in the study. The assessment of the children included thecompletion of a socio-demographic data form, the Parenting Style Scale (PSS), and the Revised Children's Anxietyand Depression Scale (RCADS). The parents provided information on a sociodemographic form, the BeckDepression Inventory (BDI), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The children in the control group scoredsignificantly higher on the PSS acceptance/ involvement subscale than those with AA. In the AA group, the numberof authoritative and indulgent (PSS) families was statistically significantly lower than that of the families in the HC,and the number of neglectful families was statistically significantly higher than those of the control group. Totalanxiety and depression t scores (RCADS) were statistically significantly higher in the AA children than in theHC. Our study demonstrates the importance of considering familial factors and parental mental health tounderstand and address alopecia areata in children. Our findings support the psychosomatic component of AA.Implementing comprehensive treatment strategies that target psychological well-being and family dynamics couldprove crucial.

A Test of the Self-Medication Hypothesis Using a Latent Measurement Model: Are Stress and Impaired Control over Alcohol Mediating Mechanisms of Parenting Styles on Heavy Episodic Drinking and Alcohol-Related Problems among University Students?

INTRODUCTION: The self-medication hypothesis (SMH) suggests that individuals consume alcohol to alleviate stressful emotions. Still, the underlying mechanisms between stress and heavy episodic drinking remain to be explored. Impaired control over drinking (IC) reflects a failure of self-regulation specific to the drinking context, with individuals exceeding self-prescribed limits. Parenting styles experienced during childhood have a lasting influence on the stress response, which may contribute to IC. METHOD: We examined the indirect influences of parenting styles (e.g., permissive, authoritarian, and authoritative) on heavy episodic drinking and alcohol-related problems through the mediating mechanisms of stress and IC. We fit a latent measurement model with 938 (473 men; 465 women) university students, utilizing bootstrap confidence intervals, in Mplus 8.0. RESULTS: Higher levels of authoritative parenting (mother and father) were indirectly linked to fewer alcohol-related problems and less heavy episodic drinking through less stress and IC. Maternal permissiveness was indirectly linked to more alcohol-related problems and heavy episodic drinking through more stress and, in turn, more IC. Impaired control appeared to be a mediator for stress and alcohol-related problems. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal permissiveness contributes to the use of alcohol to alleviate stress. Thus, reducing stress may reduce problematic heavy drinking and alcohol problems among emerging adults with high IC who may also have experienced permissive parenting. Stress may exacerbate behavioral dysregulation of drinking within self-prescribed limits.

The relation between psychosocial symptoms and parenting styles in hospitalized children.

OBJECTIVE: Hospitalization is a serious experience affecting emotional, physical and developmental needs of the children. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between psychosocial symptoms and parenting styles in hospitalized children. DESIGN AND METHODS: The sample of this cross-sectional descriptive study consisted of parents of hospitalized children between the ages of 6-12 years. The data collection tools included 'Scale for Diagnosis of Psychosocial Symptom for Inpatient children (SDPSIC)' and 'Multidimensional Parenting Assessment Scale (MAPS)'. RESULTS: The highest scores for psychosocial symptoms belonged to anxiety (8.64 ± 2.03) and regressive behaviours (3.89 ± 1.59). The highest scores for parenting styles belonged to warmth (13.30 ± 1.98) and supportiveness (12.69 ± 2.33). Parenting styles were predictore of the hospitalized child's psychosocial symptoms and explained 23% of the variance in psychosocial symptoms. While a positive relation existed between lax control, hostility, physical control parenting styles and psychosocial symptoms like anxiety, regressive behaviours, communication difficulty; a negative relation occured between warmth, positive reinforcement styles and anger-aggression. CONCLUSIONS: Focusing to the processes associating parenting styles and parenting practices with child outcomes will make the understanding of psychosocial symptoms of the child in hospitalization process easier. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Identification of psychosocial symptoms-related risk factors in hospitalized children will contribute to compliance of the child to disease and treatment as well.

Enhancing dietary adherence among African-American adolescents: the role of parenting styles and food-related practices.

Introduction: Parenting styles (PSs) and food-related parenting practices (FPPs) play a crucial role in shaping adolescent eating behavior. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the different PSs and FPPs of African-American families and the frequency of consumption of MyPlate food items by adolescents based on recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design. Data collection was conducted using Qualtrics through an online survey of 211 African-American parents and their adolescents aged 10-17-year-old. Adolescents completed the Youth and Adolescent Food Frequency Questionnaire to assess their dietary behavior, while parents filled out the survey to identify the degree of PSs (i.e., authoritative, authoritarian, setting rules, and neglecting) and FPPs (i.e., monitoring, reasoning, copying, and modeling). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and stepwise logistic regression were performed to determine the answers to the research questions. Results: For fruit consumption, authoritative parenting significantly reduced the likelihood of adherence to DGA, while authoritarian, monitoring, and reasoning practices increased it. Female adolescents were more likely to meet fruit intake recommendations, with a similar positive impact observed for those whose parents had above high school education. In vegetable intake, authoritarian and monitoring practices positively impact on adherence to DGA, whereas setting rules had a detrimental impact. Being in a married household also increased vegetable intake DGA adherence. For grain consumption, reasoning was a significant positive predictor, while setting rules negatively impacted adherence. Dairy DGA adherence was positively impacted by monitoring and copying practices, but negatively impacted by female gender. Protein intake showed a positive association with reasoning and parental education. Discussion: Our findings confirm the importance of parenting in developing desired eating behaviors among African-American adolescents. The results of this study can be used to develop culture-based nutritional education programs for parents and youth.

The Relationship of Parent-Child Technoference and Child Problematic Smartphone Use: The Roles of Parent-Child Relationship, Negative Parenting Styles, and Children's Gender.

Purpose: With the increasing ubiquity of smartphones in our daily lives, technoference has emerged as a novel threat to family relationships and child development. This study explored the impact of parent-child technoference on child problematic smartphone use and its underlying mechanism and potential gender difference among children. Participants and Methods: The participants were 3032 fourth-grade students (42.6% female; 80.6% one-child families; 32.9% lower income level families, 33.3% middle income level families; Mage = 10.59 years, SD=0.32) from 535 primary schools. Students in the target classes were invited to participate anonymously in the questionnaire survey in classrooms. Then, SPSS, AMOS and other software were used to analyze the data. Results: 1) Parent-child technoference, negative parenting styles and child problematic smartphone use were positively correlated with each other, while they were negatively correlated with parent-child relationship; 2) Parent-child technoference can not only directly and positively predict child problematic smartphone use, but also indirectly and positively predict child problematic smartphone use through parent-child relationship and negative parenting styles respectively; 3) Parent-child relationship and negative parenting styles play a chain mediating role between parent-child technoference and child problematic smartphone use; 4) There are significant gender differences in the chain mediation model. Conclusion: The results showed that parent-child technoference significantly affected child problematic smartphone use through a chain mediation of parent-child relationship and negative parenting styles. Gender differences were observed, with girls experiencing a more pronounced disruption in the parent-child relationship, while boys were more likely to develop problematic smartphone use. In cases of strained parent-child relationships due to technoference, girls also tended to perceive more negative parenting styles. These findings promote parents' understanding of the influencing factors and mechanisms of child problematic smartphone use, especially helpful for follow-up measures to prevent and intervene child problematic smartphone use from the perspective of families and parents.

The Research on Risk Factors for Adolescents' Mental Health.

There is a growing tendency for mental health disorders to emerge during adolescence. These disorders impair emotional, cognitive, and behavioral functioning, such as unsatisfying peer relationships, disruptive behavior, and decreased academic performance. They also contribute to vulnerability in later adulthood which negatively influences life-long well-being. Thus, research into etiology is imperative to provide implications for prevention and intervention within family and school practices. It is suggested that the onset of psychological disorders, such as depression and anxiety, is closely related to stress levels and patterns of stress reaction. Therefore, considerable research has investigated the link between hereditary factors, economic status, dispositional vulnerability, social relationships, and stress levels. The current study examines existing evidence and identifies multifaceted risk factors for adolescents' mental problems across three layers, including individual traits and personality, family status and practices, as well as peer relationships, and school climate. It is also suggested that factors from these three perspectives interact and are closely interconnected, directly or indirectly contributing to adolescent psychopathology. The implications for future development of prevention and intervention programs, as well as therapy, are discussed.

Development and Initial Validation of the Parenting Styles Circumplex Inventory (PSCI).

Parenting style refers to the emotional climate in which parents nurture and guide their child's social development. Despite the prominence of parenting style research, many studies still create their own psychometrically untested measures of parenting styles, use measures that do not capture the uninvolved parenting style, or use median splits to convert dimensional assessments into parenting style typologies. To address these measurement issues, the current studies developed the Parenting Styles Circumplex Inventory (PSCI) which is rooted in Contemporary Integrative Interpersonal Theory and provides a framework to unite typology and dimensional parenting style measurement approaches. The current article describes the development and initial validation of the PSCI across three samples of college students (Ns = 571, 361, 385). The 32-item PSCI consists of eight octant scales which each assess unique combinations of parental responsiveness and demandingness. The measure asks respondents to answer each question about their mother- and/or father-figure. The circumplex structure of the PSCI was confirmed and replicated across studies and the PSCI demonstrated meaningful associations with indicators of parenting practices, relationship functioning, psychopathology symptoms, and substance use. Results from this study provide initial support for the PSCI as a path forward for measuring parenting styles.

Parenting style and child mental health at preschool age: evidence from rural China.

BACKGROUND: Mental health problems among children at preschool age are a common issue across the world. As shown in literature, a caregiver's parenting style can play a critical role in child development. This study aims to examine the associations between a caregiver's parenting style and the mental health problems (or not) of their child when he/she is at preschool age in rural China. METHODS: Participants were children, aged 49 to 65 months, and their primary caregivers. The primary caregivers of the sample children completed the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire, Short Version, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and a questionnaire that elicited their socio-demographic characteristics. The level of cognitive development of each sample child was assessed using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Fourth Edition. Pearson correlation analysis, linear regression analysis, and multivariable regression analysis were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The prevalence of mental health problems among sample children at preschool age was high (31.6%). If a caregiver practices an authoritative parenting style, it was found to be negatively associated with the mental health problems of their child. In contrast, a caregiver's authoritarian parenting style was positively associated with the mental health problems of their child. Compared to those in a subgroup of primary caregivers that used a combination of low authoritative and low authoritarian parenting style, primary caregivers that used a combination of high authoritarian and low authoritative or a combination of high authoritative and high authoritarian were found to have positive association with child health problems. A number of demographic characteristics were found to be associated with the adoption of different parenting styles. CONCLUSION: Different parenting styles (including authoritative, authoritarian, and combination of authoritative and authoritarian) of the sample caregivers had different associations with the mental health problems of the sample children. Parenting programs that aim to improve the parenting styles (favoring authoritative parenting styles) should be promoted in an effort to improve the status of child mental health in rural China.

Parental styles and aggressive beliefs. The mediating role of affects / Estilos parentales y creencias agresivas. El papel mediador de los afectos

Los estilos de crianza (autoritario, democrático, permisivo y negligente) juegan un papel clave en el desarrollo personal y pueden estar relacionados con creencias y afectos agresivos en el individuo. Para examinar esta relación, 769 sujetos (359 hombres; 46.68%), con una edad promedio de 21.89 años, DT= 2.65, fueron evaluados en términos de estilos de crianza, creencias agresivas y afectos; También se exploró el papel mediador de los afectos en la relación entre creencias agresivas y estilos de crianza. El estudio reveló que estos constructos están interrelacionados. Se encontró que el estilo de crianza democrático era el más extendido. En términos de género, los estilos autoritativos se utilizaron con mayor frecuencia en hombres que en mujeres, entre los cuales el estilo permisivo fue el más común. No se encontraron diferencias de género significativas en cuanto a los estilos de crianza democráticos y negligentes. Se reveló que las mujeres estaban más expuestas a los afectos negativos y que las creencias agresivas eran más prevalentes en los hombres. Los niños educados según un estilo democrático obtuvieron puntuaciones más altas en afectos positivos y más bajas en creencias agresivas. Los estilos autoritativos tienden a conducir a puntuaciones superiores a la media en afectos positivos y creencias agresivas. Además, una de cada cinco personas educadas según un estilo permisivo obtiene una puntuación alta en afecto negativo, y una de cada cuatro personas educadas según un estilo negligente obtiene puntuaciones altas en creencias agresivas. Finalmente, se descubrió que los estilos de crianza tienen un efecto directo sobre las creencias agresivas, efecto potenciado por el papel mediador que desempeñan los afectos. En conclusión, el estudio sugiere que los estilos de crianza están relacionados con creencias y afectos agresivos. Además, se demostró que los afectos desempeñan un papel mediador en la relación entre los estilos de crianza y las creencias agresivas. Finalmente, vale la pena enfatizar que, debido a las implicaciones de gran alcance que los estilos de crianza tienen en el desarrollo psicológico, social y personal del individuo, es necesario realizar más investigaciones, no sólo para examinar su relación con los afectos y las creencias agresivas, sino también también con otras variables psicológicas implicadas en el desarrollo personal.(AU)

Parenting stiles (authoritative, democratic, permissive and ne-glectful) play a key role in personal development and can be related to ag-gressive beliefs and affects in the individual. In order to examine this rela-tionship, 769 subjects (359 men; 46.68%), with an average age of 21.89 years, SD= 2.65, were assessed in terms of parenting styles, aggressive be-liefs and affects; the mediating role of affects in the relationship between aggressive beliefs and parenting styles was also explored. The study re-vealed that these constructs are interrelated. The democratic parenting style was found to be the most widespread. In terms of gender, authorita-tive styles were used more often on men than on women, among which the permissive style was the most common. No significant gender differ-ences were found concerning democratic and neglectful parenting styles. Women were revealed to be more exposed to negative affects, and aggres-sive beliefs were found to be more prevalent in men. Children educated according to a democratic style scored higher in positive affects and lower in aggressive beliefs. Authoritative styles tend to lead to above-average scores in positive affects and aggressive beliefs. In addition, one in five people educated according to a permissive style returns a high negative af-fect score, and one in four people educated according to a neglectful style yields high scores in aggressive beliefs. Finally, parenting styles were found to have a direct effect on aggressive beliefs, an effect enhanced by the me-diating role played by affects. In conclusion, the study suggests that parent-ing styles are related to aggressive beliefs and affects. In addition, affects were shown to play a mediating role in the relationship between parenting styles and aggressive beliefs. Finally, it is worth emphasising that, owing to the far-reaching implications of parenting styles on the psychological, so-cial and personal development of the individual, more research needs to be undertaken, not only to examine their relationship with affects and aggres-sive beliefs, but also with other psychological variables involved in person-al development.(AU)

Parental Burnout, Negative Parenting Style, and Adolescents' Development.

Research on parental burnout has focused more on its antecedents than on its consequences. Burned-out parents may experience a series of behavioral changes, negatively affecting their children's physical and mental development. This study examined the effects of primary caregivers' parental burnout on adolescents' development and the mediating role of negative parenting styles. This study used a time-lagged design, and data were collected at three different time points. Adolescents were asked to identify their primary caregivers, and parents were asked whether they were the primary caregivers of their children. Thereafter, paired data from the children and primary caregivers were collected. A total of 317 junior middle school students (178 boys, Mage = 14.20 ± 0.8 years) and primary caregivers (71 fathers, Mage = 42.20 ± 4.53 years) from Henan province participated. Primary caregivers' parental burnout was positively associated with negative parenting styles, and negative parenting styles mediated the relationship between parental burnout and adolescent development. From the perspective of prevention-focused interventions, it is necessary to focus on preventing the occurrence of parental burnout. Further, parents should try to avoid using abusive behaviors toward their children and neglecting them.

Effects of parenting styles on adult personality traits, depressive trait, and brain structure.

This study explored the complex triangular relationships between parenting styles, personality traits, and depressive trait in Chinese Han adults (N = 490; Mean age=24.25; 51.0% women), and examined the relationship between parenting styles and brain structure. The data indicated that depressive trait in adulthood were negatively correlated with a favorable parenting style (emotional warmth) and positively correlated with undesirable parenting styles (punishment, rejection, and overprotection/over-intervention). Additionally, depressive trait in adulthood were positively related to neuroticism and psychoticism, and negatively related to extraversion. Using a multiple parallel mediation analysis, we found that neuroticism could be worsened by undesirable parenting styles and ameliorated by favorable parenting styles, and it further mediated the relationship between parenting styles and depressive trait across all models. Psychoticism played a similar role in two models: 1) parental punishment and depressive trait and 2) parental rejection and depressive trait. Extraversion played a mediating role between the father's overprotection and depressive trait. Subgroup analysis showed that different mediating pathways existed between different sexes. In terms of brain structure, we found that gray matter volume of the right inferior frontal gyrus was negatively related to overprotection by the father and positively related to psychoticism. Our findings highlight the importance of parenting style on personality traits, depressive trait, and brain structure over the long term.

Early Family Experiences, Drug Use, and Psychosocial Adjustment across the Life Span: Is Parental Strictness Always a Protective Factor?

Objective: This study analyzes whether parental strictness, which is shared by authoritative parenting (strictness and warmth) and authoritarian parenting (strictness without warmth) styles, always acts as a main protective factor against drug use and psychosocial maladjustment in children. This conclusion has already been stated in numerous classic studies, though emergent research suggests that there are benefits to parental warmth regardless of whether strictness is present or not. Method: Sample were 2,095 Spanish participants (1,227 females, 58.6%), 581 adolescent children (aged 12-18 years, 27.7%) and 1,514 adult children (72.3%). The measures were the main parenting style dimensions (warmth and strictness), drug use, and a set of indicators of psychosocial adjustment. A 4 × 2 × 4 MANOVA was applied for all outcomes with parenting style, sex, and age as independent variables. Results: Indulgent parenting (warmth without strictness) was related to less drug use than parenting without warmth (authoritarian and neglectful). Additionally, indulgent and authoritative parenting styles were related to better scores on psychosocial adjustment than authoritarian and neglectful styles, although the indulgent parenting was the only style related to the optimal scores being equal or even more effective than the authoritative style. Conclusion: Contrary to classical studies, present findings suggest that it is the parental warmth instead of the parental strictness that seems to be effective in protecting against drug use and psychosocial maladjustment.

Objetivo: En este estudio se analiza si, como asumen numerosos estudios clásicos, el componente de severidad que comparte el estilo parental autorizativo (severidad y afecto) con el estilo autoritario (severidad sin afecto) actúan siempre como el principal factor protector del consumo de drogas y el desajuste psicosocial de los hijos. Sin embargo, la investigación emergente sugiere los beneficios del afecto parental independientemente de la severidad. Método: Los participantes fueron 2,095 hijos españoles (1,227 mujeres, 58.6%), 581 adolescentes (de 12 a 18 años, 27.7%) y 1,514 adultos (72.3%). Las medidas fueron de las principales dimensiones del estilo parental (afecto y severidad), del consumo de drogas y un conjunto de indicadores del ajuste psicosocial. Se aplicó un MANOVA 4 × 2 × 4 con todos los criterios evaluados analizando el estilo parental, el sexo y la edad como variables independientes. Resultados: El estilo indulgente (afecto sin severidad) se relacionó con un menor consumo de drogas que los estilos sin afecto (autoritario y negligente). Además, los estilos indulgente y autorizativo se relacionaron con mejores puntuaciones en ajuste psicosocial, aunque el indulgente fue el único estilo relacionado con las puntuaciones óptimas siendo igual o incluso más eficaz que el estilo autorizativo. Conclusión: A diferencia de los estudios clásicos, los presentes resultados sugieren que el afecto parental, en vez de la severidad, parece ser eficaz como protección frente al consumo de drogas y el desajuste psicosocial.

The temporal stability of maternal parenting style and child feeding practices: A six-wave longitudinal study.

Although parenting styles and child feeding practices are conceptualized as distal, static predictors of child eating and weight outcomes, few studies have examined the temporal stability (i.e., change over time) of these parenting measures. Also, parental characteristics, such as mental health or socio-demographics, may make it more or less difficult to sustain consistent parenting behavior. This study examined the temporal stability of parenting styles and child feeding practices and the association between temporal stability indices with maternal sociodemographic and mental health characteristics. The analytic sample included 161 ethnically diverse mothers enrolled in a six-wave bi-annual longitudinal study. During each wave, mothers reported on their parenting styles and child feeding practices using validated self-report questionnaires. Temporal stability indices for parenting styles were moderate for authoritative (ICC = 0.57) and authoritarian (ICC = 0.70) styles, yet high for permissive (ICC = 0.78) styles. Temporal stability scores for child feeding practices were low for discipline (ICC = 0.33), limit setting (ICC = 0.33), monitoring (ICC = 0.36), and pressure to eat (ICC = 0.34); however, restriction (ICC = 0.53) and role modeling of healthy eating were moderate (ICC = 0.73). Greater income and education status were positively associated with stability in authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive parenting styles, as well as with limit setting, monitoring, role modeling of healthy eating, and pressure to eat feeding practices. Higher anxiety and depressive symptoms and lower self-esteem were negatively associated with permissive parenting styles and role modeling of healthy eating. Findings show that maternal parenting styles and child feeding practices fluctuate over time, and sociodemographic and mental health characteristics are related to stability of some of these parenting styles and behaviors.