What Is the Relationship Between Structural Factors, Parenting Stress, and Child Externalizing Behaviors?
Faculty Mentor
Sara Haden
Major/Area of Research
Psychology
Description
INTRODUCTION: Research suggests that parenting stress may influence child behavioral outcomes, while structural factors such as income may play an indirect role. This study examined the relationships between structural factors, parenting stress, and child externalizing behavior. This study examined the relationships among structural factors, parenting stress, and child externalizing behavior. We theorize that there is a significant negative relationship between income inequality and parenting stress is associated with higher levels of child externalizing behaviors. We also theorize negative income has a strong impact on boys, strongly suggesting externalizing behaviors.
METHOD: Participants included 100 parents (88 mothers, 12 fathers) of 119 children (61 daughters, 58 sons). They completed several measures as part of a larger study examining the impact of income inequality on family functioning. Measures included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and adjusted gross income (AGI). A model that tested the impact of income and parenting stress, and their interaction, was testing on total child difficulties as measured by the SDQ.
RESULTS: Results from a multiple regression analysis found a significant relationship between the predictors and child difficulties, accounting for 19.5% of the variance. Parental stress significantly predicted child behavioral problems (p < .01), whereas income did not.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that higher parenting stress is associated with increased child externalizing behaviors, excluding family income. Overall, the results highlight parental stress as a key factor in child behavioral outcomes, while suggesting that structural factors may influence behavior indirectly through their impact on stress.
What Is the Relationship Between Structural Factors, Parenting Stress, and Child Externalizing Behaviors?
INTRODUCTION: Research suggests that parenting stress may influence child behavioral outcomes, while structural factors such as income may play an indirect role. This study examined the relationships between structural factors, parenting stress, and child externalizing behavior. This study examined the relationships among structural factors, parenting stress, and child externalizing behavior. We theorize that there is a significant negative relationship between income inequality and parenting stress is associated with higher levels of child externalizing behaviors. We also theorize negative income has a strong impact on boys, strongly suggesting externalizing behaviors.
METHOD: Participants included 100 parents (88 mothers, 12 fathers) of 119 children (61 daughters, 58 sons). They completed several measures as part of a larger study examining the impact of income inequality on family functioning. Measures included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and adjusted gross income (AGI). A model that tested the impact of income and parenting stress, and their interaction, was testing on total child difficulties as measured by the SDQ.
RESULTS: Results from a multiple regression analysis found a significant relationship between the predictors and child difficulties, accounting for 19.5% of the variance. Parental stress significantly predicted child behavioral problems (p < .01), whereas income did not.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that higher parenting stress is associated with increased child externalizing behaviors, excluding family income. Overall, the results highlight parental stress as a key factor in child behavioral outcomes, while suggesting that structural factors may influence behavior indirectly through their impact on stress.