Explaining the Causal Correlations between Maternal Parenting Styles and Emotional Problems of Daughters based on the Mediating Role of Interpersonal Problems

Parenting refers to the ways in which children are socialized by caregivers; which can sometimes lead to strained parent-child relationships, especially with daughters. parents and children face a variety of emotional and social problems that need to be addressed to make appropriate decisions. The present research investigates and explains causal correlations between maternal parenting styles and emotional problems of daughters based on the mediating role of interpersonal problems.

This study employed a descriptive correlational survey. The statistical population of the study consist of grade XII female students with their mothers in Karaj in academic year 2020/2021. In this study, 256 female students participated with their mothers, which is a total of 512 participants and were selected by purposive sampling method. The research instruments included the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-47 (IIP-47; Pilkonis, Kim, Proietti, & Barkham, 1996), Parenting Styles Inventory (Baumrind, 1973), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995). Data were analyzed by structural equation modeling (SEM) in AMOS-24 software.

Results indicated that authoritarian parenting style and interpersonal problems have significant positive effect (P<0.05) on emotional problems. The mediating role of interpersonal problems was also significant (P<0.05).

The results revealed that there is a significant correlation between authoritarian parenting styles and emotional problems and interpersonal problems also play a mediating role in this regard. Thus, it is essential to pay attention to the role of parenting styles and to establish appropriate parent-child relationships in order to prevent emotional problems.