Dysfunctional Parenting Behaviors and Parenting Stress Among Mothers of Aggressive Boys

ABSTRACT

The present investigation examined the relationship between dysfunctional parenting and parenting stress in a sample of 54 mothers of aggressive boys in Singapore. Overall dysfunctional parenting at Time 1 significantly predicted Time 2 maternal parenting stress in two subdomains of unrewarding mother-child interactions and poor attachment, over and above the variance accounted for by initial Time 1 maternal parenting stress in these respective subdomains. Additionally, maternal laxness at Time 1 predicted Time 2 maternal stress arising from unrewarding mother-child interactions, while maternal overreactivity at Time 1 predicted Time 2 maternal stress arising from poor attachment. Maternal verbosity at Time 1 did not add unique variance to the prediction of Time 2 maternal stress from both subdomains. These findings have implications for prevention and intervention efforts that attempt to improve parent-child interaction quality and modify coercive operant contingencies within families.

KEYWORDS:

• Asian
• childhood aggression
• dysfunctional parenting
• parenting stress

Special thanks are extended to Jade Teo and Mercy Teo for overseeing the data collection. The cooperation of Khye Suan Tan (Director, Methodist Children and Youth Center, Singapore [MCYC]), Elizabeth Pang, and Vivienne Ng (Former and Current Head, respectively, Psychological Services Unit, Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, Singapore [MCYS]) are also gratefully acknowledged. Thanks are also extended to the following individuals: Michelle Ho, Charmaine Lim, Saw Han Quah, Li Koon Quek and Li Jen Tan.

Notes

Note. PS = Parenting Scale. PSI = Parenting Stress Index.

Note. T1 PSI (RE) = Time 1 measure of unrewarding mother-child interactions; Reinforces Parent subscale score of Parenting Stress Index. T1 PSI (ATT) = Time 1 measure of lack of attachment; Attachment subscale score of Parenting Stress Index. T1 PS (Total) = Time 1 measure of overall dysfunctional mother parenting; total score of Parenting Scale. Beta weights are from the final equation.

∗p < .05. ∗∗p < .01.

Note. T1 PSI (RE) = Time 1 measure of unrewarding mother-child interactions; Reinforces Parent subscale score of Parenting Stress Index. T1 PSI (ATT) = Time 1 measure of lack of attachment; Attachment subscale score of Parenting Stress Index. T1 PS (Laxness) = Time 1 Parenting Scale measuring dysfunctional mother parenting, Laxness subscale score. T1 PS (Overreactivity) = Time 1 Parenting Scale measuring dysfunctional mother parenting, Overreactivity subscale score. T1 PS (Verbosity) = Time 1 Parenting Scale measuring dysfunctional mother parenting, Verbosity subscale score. Beta weights are from the final equation.

∗p < .05. ∗∗p < .01.