The Role of Mother's Parenting Style on Prediction of Behavior Problems in Preschool Children with Intellectual Disability

The aim of present study was to predict behavior problems of preschool children with intellectual disability based on parenting style of their mothers. This study is descriptive -correlation. The statistical population of this research includes the whole mothers of preschool children with intellectual disability in Shiraz city. The sample includes 58 mothers of preschool children with intellectual disability that were selected by purposeful sampling. Parenting Styles Questioner (Robinson et al., 1995) was used for measuring of parenting styles and Shahim and Yousefi’ Behavior Problems Questionnaire was used for measuring of behavior problems. Regression analysis indicated that authoritarian and permissive parenting styles were significant and positive predictors of fear, social behavior and aggression (P<0/05). Also, the results show that the authoritarian parenting style was significant and negative predictor of fear, social behavior and aggression (P<0/05). It is worth noting that in this study, there isn’t significant correlation between the authoritarian style, authoritative style and permissive style with attention deficit. According to the findings, designing a workshop for enhancing knowledge and awareness of parents about parenting styles and effects of parenting styles on their children is necessary. So, changing parent's attitudes about parenting styles and improving family relationships behavior can lead to reduction in behavioral problems in students with intellectually disability.