Parenting styles and emotional intelligence of HIV-affected children in Thailand

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of parenting styles on emotional intelligence of HIV-affected children in Thailand. This study uses data from 205 HIV-affected children in northern and northeastern Thailand. Correlation and regression analyses were used to examine the predictors of emotional intelligence. Children reporting higher levels of stress reported less caring parenting style (standardized beta [B]=−0.18, p=0.050). Children with higher self-esteem were also more likely to perceive their parents as caring (B=0.48, p=0.002). Children who scored lower on their self-esteem reported their parents to be more overprotective (B=−0.30, p=0.030), and children reporting higher levels of stress reported their parents to be more overprotective (B=0.12, p=0.010). Children reporting caring parenting style were significantly more likely to report higher emotional intelligence (B=0.66, p=0.001). Parenting styles play an important role in the emotional intelligence. Identifying and testing interventions to help parents improve their parenting styles, while helping their HIV-affected children cope with stress and self-esteem, are essential in promoting mental health of HIV-affected children in Thailand.

Keywords:

• emotional intelligence
• parenting styles
• HIV-affected children
• Thailand

Acknowledgements

This article was completed with the support of the National Institute of Nursing Research (Grant NINR R01-NR009922), and the National Institute of Mental Health (Grant NIMH 5K01MH085503). We thank all individuals who participated in the study, as well as the research coordinators, hospital directors, provincial health officers, and interviewers and facilitators in Chiang Rai and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces.