Relationship between parenting stress and children's behavioral characteristics in Japan.

BACKGROUND

The evaluation of a child tends to differ between the mother and father regardless of whether the child has a disability or not, although parents have key information about the behavioral characteristics of the child. The number of reports in Japan, however, is limited. We, therefore, investigated the relationship between the parenting stress experienced by parents of non-clinical preschool children and the children's behavioral characteristics.

METHOD

The subjects were 83 pairs of mothers and fathers with non-clinical children in kindergarten and nursery school (average age, 59.1 ± 13.0 months; 36 boys, 47 girls). The study was conducted using the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).

RESULTS

There was no difference in the PSI-SF scores between mothers and fathers, but hyperactivity/inattention, peer relationship problems, and the total score of the SDQ were significantly higher in fathers. On multiple regression analysis, parenting stress experienced by fathers was significantly related to hyperactivity/inattention, while parenting stress experienced by mothers was significantly related to peer relationship problems and emotional symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Children's behavioral characteristics related to parenting stress differ between mothers and fathers.