Intact Nuclear Families: Associations between Parental Styles and School Children’s Behavior

Aline Sanches Politi Sebastião,Sonia Regina Loureiro,Ana Paula Casagrande Silva Rodrigues,Fernanda Aguiar Pizeta

doi:10.1590/1413-82712020250110

Aline Sanches Politi Sebastião, Sonia Regina Loureiro + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-82712020250110

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Abstract

Abstract Regardless of family configurations, few studies address the concomitant assessment of mothers and fathers regarding their children’s behaviors and parenting practices. The objective was to compare and correlate the assessment of biological mothers and fathers of intact nuclear families on their parental practices and behavioral problems of their school-aged children. Fourth-two intact nuclear families answered to the following instruments: General Questionnaire, Parenting Style Inventory, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and Raven Progressive Matrices Test - Special Scale. The quantitative analysis showed that mothers and fathers presented similar assessments regarding the behavior of their children, though mothers reported more positive practices than fathers. Negative parenting styles were positively correlated with child behavioral problems. These findings contribute to the planning of preventive strategies and interventions directed to families.

Highlights

Various studies have addressed changes that have taken place over time in family configurations, including nuclear families with different arrangements (Cunico & Arpini, 2014; Gomes, Crepaldi, & Bigras, 2013; Leme, Del Prette, & Coimbra, 2013)
Comparison between the assessments performed by the mothers and fathers using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) did not reveal significant statistical differences (Table 1), though mothers obtained higher scores, when compared to fathers, concerning total Difficulties and Emotional Symptoms, Hyperactivity, Peer Relationship Problems, and Prosocial Behavior
Negative parenting practices, expressed by low psi, were predominant among both the fathers and mothers of children with behavioral problems; that is, scores concerning negative parenting practices were higher than scores concerning positive practices. These results reveal children are exposed to adverse developmental conditions, showing the importance of preventive programs and interventions focused on parenting practices directed to mothers and fathers, in order to promote positive practices and minimize negative ones, as a resource to ensure the mental health of school-aged children

Summary

Introduction

Various studies have addressed changes that have taken place over time in family configurations, including nuclear families with different arrangements (Cunico & Arpini, 2014; Gomes, Crepaldi, & Bigras, 2013; Leme, Del Prette, & Coimbra, 2013). In this study we adopted the concepts proposed by Gomide (2006), who called Parenting Styles the set of rearing practices mothers and fathers adopt to raise, socialize, and control the behavior or their children. In turn, refers to a set of actions intended to convey values and virtues Such positive practices, when used as disciplinary strategies, may favor the development of prosocial behaviors in children (Gomide, 2006; Mondin, 2006). This study is intended to fill in this gap and its objective was to compare and correlate assessments of the biological mothers and fathers in intact nuclear families regarding their parenting practices and the behavior of their school-aged children. According to the assessments of both mothers and fathers, children who more frequently present behavioral problems are more frequently exposed to negative parenting practices and less frequently exposed to positive parenting practices

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