The mediational role of parental stress in the relationship between parenting styles and frequency of child behavior problems

The purpose of this study was to determine the mediational role of parental stress between parenting styles and the frequency of child behavior problems. The sample consists of 200 mothers of children referred for behavioral problems (e.g., yelling, fighting, noncompliance, tantrums) from different public elementary schools of Mexico City, With a mean of 34 (SD 6,21) years, their average schooling was secondary school and lower middle socioeconomic status. Regarding the children, 140 were boys and 60 girls with an average age of 8 years. Measures used were the Parental Stress Index. Child Behavior Inventory and Scale to Evaluate Parents Educational Styles (Parent Version), The results revealed that the factor of parental stress difficult child is a mediator in the relationship between parenting styles criticism-rejection and form indulgent and the frequency of Behavioral Problems.