Predicting Children's Behavioral Disorders Based on Mothers' Parenting Styles with the Mediation of Children's Attachment Styles

Abstract

Purpose: The prevalence of behavioral disorders in children is significant and is associated with mothers' parenting styles and attachment styles. The present study aimed to predict children's behavioral disorders based on mothers' parenting styles with the mediation of children's attachment styles in the city of Isfahan. Materials and Methods: The research method is descriptive-correlational. The research population included all children aged 8 to 11 years in the city of Isfahan in 2023, from whom 310 were selected as a sample through convenience sampling. The research tools included the Baumrind Parenting Styles Questionnaire (1991), the Kappenberg et al. Attachment Styles Questionnaire (2006), and the Rutter Behavioral Problems Questionnaire (1975). Findings: The findings showed that the path coefficients for the permissive parenting style were β = 0.26, for the authoritarian style β = 0.38, and for the authoritative style β = -0.14, all significant at P ≤ 0.05. The path coefficient for attachment styles to behavioral disorders was also β = 0.47, significant at P ≤ 0.05. Conclusion: Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that children's behavioral disorders can be predicted by mothers' parenting styles and attachment styles.