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Panel information
Panel 14. Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Abstract

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Background: Strong and positive parent-child relationships have long been associated with healthy child socioemotional development (Deneault et al., 2023; Horton et al., 2022). Parental perceptions of the parent-child relationship are key determinants of parenting (Bornstein et al., 2018), and may be a cost-effective way to measure aspects of relationship quality. Parental beliefs about the parent-child relationship are influenced by multiple determinants, including parenting stress and behavior problems (Bornstein et al., 2018; Belsky, 1984). The current study utilized Driscoll and Pianta’s 2011 two domain (conflict and closeness) framework for examining perceptions of the parent-child relationship. We first hypothesized that both increased levels of parenting stress and child behavior problems would be associated with decreased levels of perceived closeness and increased levels of perceived conflict. Second, we hypothesized that relations would be stronger in older compared to younger children.

Methods: The current study includes a nationally representative sample (N=1381) of 12–36-month-old children and parents from The Early Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (Baby FACES; Cannon et al., 2020) 2018 cross-sectional study. Parental perceptions of relational conflict and closeness were measured using the Child Parent Relationship Scale-Short Form (Driscoll & Pianta, 2011). Parenting stress was measured with the PSI-4-SF (Abidin, 2012). Perceived behavior problems were measured with the staff-reported BITSEA (Briggs-Gowan & Carter, 2006). Analyses were conducted through path analysis with FIML using 95% bootstrapped confidence intervals. Chi-square difference testing assessed significant moderation of paths by age. Significant covariates were included, and analyses were weighted per Baby FACES guidelines for a more accurate representation of the population.

Results: The overall model had good fit, CFI = 1.00, RMSEA = .003, SRMR = .010 (Figure 1). As hypothesized, increased parenting stress was associated with decreased parent-child closeness and increased parent-child conflict. Increased staff-reported behavior problems were associated with decreases in perceived closeness and increases in perceived conflict. To examine effects by child age, two subsets of the sample were used, children aged 12-18 months (n=236) and children aged 30-36 months (n=474) (Table 1). The positive relation between parenting stress and perceived conflict was significantly stronger in older compared to younger children. Additionally, more behavior problems and greater parenting stress were only associated with less closeness in older children.

Discussion: Both parenting stress and child behavior problems are associated with parental perceptions of the parent-child relationship. Notably, the relation between parenting stress and perceived closeness and conflict was significantly stronger in older as compared to younger children. As children age, parenting stress may spillover more into parenting and play a larger role in driving more negative interactions and fewer supportive parenting behaviors. Additionally, more staff-reported behavior problems were only associated with less closeness in older children. It may be that parental attributions of child behavior evolve, and higher expectations for children to behave in front of others may be contributing to how close parents feel to their children. Further research on perceptions of the parent-child relationship is necessary to aid in the cost-effective identification of potential targets for clinical intervention.

Author information

Author	Role
Madyson R. Diehl, University of Missouri-St. Louis	Presenting author
Emily D. Gerstein, Ph.D., University of Missouri-St. Louis	Non-presenting author

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