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

Abstract

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.

Parenting styles and personal belief in a just world among Chinese children and adolescents: gender, living location, and age as moderators

“…Much of the current research in China focuses on academic achievement and does not include PBJW as an outcome variable. Additionally, China has undergone significant social, cultural, and economic changes (Li, 2020 ), including urbanization and rural-urban migration trends (Wang et al, 2024 ). Therefore, the relationship between parenting styles and PBJW remains unclear in China, and further clarification is needed to determine whether cultural differences regarding optimal parenting styles also affect the relationship between parenting styles and PBJW.…”

“…In contrast, in rural areas, due to limitations such as economic and social living conditions, which give children and adolescents a narrower range of social contacts, this leads to a lesser influence of their Western liberal ideas (Chen and Li, 2012 ). As a result, rural areas have a stronger culture of collectivism, patriarchal authority and filial piety, and children and adolescents are taught early to be submissive, respect authority and maintain family relationships (Chen and Li, 2012 ; Wang et al, 2024 ). This leads to rural children and adolescents have a weaker need for autonomy (Guo et al, 2005 ).…”