Relationship between Parenting Style and Anxiety in a Spanish Children Sample

Abstract

The aim of this study is to ascertain whether there are any diff erences in the parenting practices experienced by two groups of children with, respectively, low-risk and high-risk scores for anxiety. A second objective is to determine which parenting variables are linked with the presence or absence of this kind of internalizing problem. From a sample of 550 subjects, we selected 180 children between 3 and 12 years of age who met a set of specifi c criteria as having either high risk scores (90 children) or low risk scores (90 children) for anxiety, according to the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC). After applying the Parent-Child Relationship Inventory (PCRI-M) to both parents, we carried out a binomial logistic regression analysis which resulted in a prediction model for 83.9% of the sample. The model was based on the following parenting variables: paternal involvement and support for autonomy, and maternal parental support, satisfaction with parenting, involvement, limit setting and role orientation. The paper also discusses the usefulness of our results for the planning of family intervention strategies. The information obtained has broad applications for interventions with families with anxious children, since parents' responses to the instruments used revealed patterns of behaviour that can be modifi ed in both parents and children.

Internalizing Problems in Childhood and Adolescence: The Role of the Family

“…With regard to the first objective, the results showed that internalizing problems in children occur less frequently when both parents receive more support in parenting, show greater discipline, provide more autonomy to their children, and when the mother feels greater satisfaction with parenting. The results coincide with those obtained by Aguilar et al 7 Raya et al 9 Toro, 18 and Yap et al 19 which also showed that these were the parenting style factors most closely related to the frequency of some internalizing problems. Regarding autonomy, the results obtained coincided with those of Ezpeleta et al 14 in that the children who manifested more emotional problems after COVID-19 had perceived more overprotection by their parents.…”

“…Relatively several recent studies, such as Aguilar et al 7 have found that parenting styles focused on overprotection or excessive control by both parents have a greater impact on the development of anxiety during childhood and adolescence. With children between the ages of 3 and 12, it has been shown that parental behaviors focused on affection and communication not only affect acceptance and rejection but also increase the risk of depression.…”

“… 6 Several studies argue that both problems tend to be found more in those children who perceive certain behaviors in their parents more frequently. 7 - 9 Previous research has already indicated that parenting practices characterized by high levels of affection and a high demand for maturity result in a democratic style of parenting that leads to balanced child development and reduces the likelihood of mental health problems. 10 , 11…”