Association between behavioral problems and parenting stress in preschool children

Abstract

Objective To analyze the relationship between parenting stress in parents and behavioral problems in preschool children, to provide scientific basis for prevention and intervention of preschool children′s behavioral problems. Methods A sample of 208 preschool children were selected from Changsha. Parents were invited to complete the Conners Child Behavior Checklist (Parent Question) and Parenting Stress Index (PSI). Results The proportion of preschool children with behavioral problems in this surveyed sample was 19.71% (41/208). The rate of higher level parenting stress was 19.71% (41/208). Total parenting stress scores in preschool children with behavioral problems were 83.46±16.76, which were higher than the scores 77.07±15.02 in those without behavioral problems (t=-2.38, P<0.05), and difficult child scales stress score in preschool children with behavioral problems were 29.95±6.44, which were higher than the scores 26.71±6.10 in those without behavioral problems (t=-3.02, P<0.05). Total parenting stress scores was positively related with each of dimension of behavioral problems (r=0.14-0.42, P<0.05 or 0.01). Conclusion The behavioral problems is positively related with parenting stress in preschool children. Therefore, the parents of preschool children should adjust their parenting stress, so as to create a warm growing environment for their children, thus reducing the behavioral problems of preschool children. Key words: Preschool children; Behavioral problems; Parenting stress