The investigation of the relationship between internalizing/externalizing problems and temperament, family functioning, child-rearing attitudes

Abstract

Objective: This study was aimed to evaluate the relationship between internalizing/ externalizing problems and child temperament characteristics, family functioning and child-rearing attitudes. Methods: One hundred and fifty-seven children with internalizing and externalizing and their parents were included in this study. Internalizing and externalizing problems were evaluated by ‘Children Behavior Checklist’, child temperament was evaluated by ‘School-age Children Temperament Inventory’, family functioning was evaluated by ‘Family Assessment Device’ (FAD) and child-rearing attitudes were evaluated by ‘Parental Attitude Research Instrument’ (PARI). Results: Modelling test has been revealed that affective responsiveness feature subscales of FAD has a mediator effect on the relation found between in which both internalizing and externalizing problems, and marital conflict, rejection of the home making role and equalitarianism and democratic attitudes feature subscales of PARI. Similarly, modelling test has been pointed out that behavior control feature subscales of FAD has a mediator effect on the relation found between externalizing problems and strictness and authoritarianism feature subscales of PARI. Discussion: Our findings showed that family functioning has a mediator effect on the between internalizing/externalizing problems and child-rearing attitudes, these results indicated the importance of parent education in treatment. Long-term follow-up studies are required to determine relationships between internalizing /externalizing problems with child-rearing attitude and family functioning.