Psychological aspects in health and diseases
Fariba Tabe Bordbar; Fahime Koraei
Abstract
Objective: Parenting styles, parental conflict, child anxiety, and behavioral problems are closely linked in health psychology. These factors influence a child's emotional, psychological, and behavioral development. Their interaction can have long-term effects on mental health. This study examined whether ...
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Objective: Parenting styles, parental conflict, child anxiety, and behavioral problems are closely linked in health psychology. These factors influence a child's emotional, psychological, and behavioral development. Their interaction can have long-term effects on mental health. This study examined whether anxiety mediates the relationship between parental conflicts, parenting styles, and children's behavioral disorders.
Method: This correlational study surveyed 1,500 five- to six-year-old preschoolers in Behbahan City. Using the Klein rule, a sample of 200 was selected through single-stage cluster sampling. Tools included the Child Behavior Checklist, the Interparental Conflict Scale, the Parenting Style Questionnaire, and the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale. Data were analyzed with path analysis in SPSS 22 and AMOS.
Results: Structural model analysis showed parental conflicts directly and significantly affected externalizing behavior problems (β = 0.22, p< 0.05). Parental conflicts also significantly impacted children’s anxiety (β=0.417, p<0.05). Parenting styles (permissive and strict) significantly predicted anxiety and internalizing problems (p<0.05). Authoritative style had a negative, significant effect on anxiety and behavioral problems (β = -0.17, p<0.05). Indirect effects of parental conflict and all parenting styles on behavioral problems, through anxiety, were significant (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Children's behavioral problems are influenced by anxiety, parental conflicts, and parenting styles. Anxiety can intensify the effects of parental conflicts and parenting styles. Increased perceptions of parental conflict are linked to higher behavioral problems and anxiety in children.
