Mediating role of interpersonal problems on the relationship between parenting styles and marital problems

Interactions between family members in childhood, especially the parent-child relationship, affects how individuals behave in interpersonal relationships in adulthood. The aim of the present study was to examine the mediating role of interpersonal problems in the relationship between parenting styles and marital problems. A total of 249 volunteers (93 men, 156 women) from Tehran family courts participated in this study. All participants were asked to complete Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ), Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-30), and Golombok Rust Inventory of Marital State (GRIMS). Authoritative parenting style showed a significant negative association with marital problems while authoritarian parenting style was significantly in positive association with marital problems. Permissive parenting style showed a negative association with marital problems; however it was not statistically significant. Interpersonal problems also showed a significant positive association with marital problems. Analysis of the data revealed that interpersonal problems mediated the relationship between parenting styles and marital problems. Based on the results of the present study, it can be concluded that some kind of parenting styles might develop interpersonal problems. Marital problems and couples’ dissatisfaction could be consequences of such problems in the later stages of life.