The Relationship between Mothers' Difficulty in Emotion Regulation and Parenting Styles and Children's Disruptive Behavior Symptoms

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between mothers’Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and parenting methods and their elementary school children's disruptive behaviors. The statistical population consisted of mothers of elementary boys’ school in Shiraz. Four state elementary boys’ schools were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling. Then, through screening procedure, 105 mothers of children with disruptive behaviors (oppositional defiant behaviors and conduct behaviors) were selected based on the teacher and parents' Child Symptom Inventory. Participants completed the Parent’s form of Child Symptom Inventory-4, Alabama Parenting Questionnaire, and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Findings of correlation showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between Difficulties in Emotion Regulation, behavioral inconsistency, weakness in the supervision of mothers and children’s symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder. Also, mothers’ positive parenting methods have a negative and significant relationship with children’s symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder. In addition, the results showed that Difficulties in Emotion Regulation of mothers have a positive and significant relationship with their behavioral inconsistency and weakness in supervision and guidance. Regarding the results of regression, the strongest predictor of children’s oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder is the weakness of maternal supervision. According to the results, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and parental parenting methods have significant relationships with oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder. These findings can be routinely addressed in the therapeutic field or in the education of parents and children with risks.