Explaining Causal Relationships Between Mothers' Personality Traits and Children's Behavioral Problems Based on the Mediating Role of Parenting Styles

The personality and the way parents interact with children are important factors in the pathology and early prevention of children's behavioral problems. The present study was conducted with the aim of explaining the causal relationships between mothers' personality traits and children's behavioral problems based on the mediating role of parenting styles.

The method of this research was descriptive and correlation type with modeling approach. The statistical population of this research included all mothers and their children aged 8-12 living in areas 1-3 of Tehran in 2022-2023, and 267 mothers were selected by convenient sampling method as the study sample. The data collection tools included the Neo Personality Traits Questionnaire (McCree and Costa, 1997), the Alabama Parenting Style (Frick, 1991) and the Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach and Rescular, 2001). Data analysis was done by SPSS24 and AMOS software using structural equation modeling method.

Based on the obtained results, the structural model has a good fit with the data. Total path coefficient between agreeableness (p=0.032, β=-0.145), openness (p=0.019, β=-0.151), conscientiousness (p=0.001, β=-0.380) and neuroticism (p = 0.001, β = 0.387) was significant with children's behavioral problems. The multiple correlation coefficient for children's behavioral problems variable was 0.57.

The present study confirmed the mediating role of parenting styles in the relationship between mothers' personality traits and children's behavioral problems. Children's behavioral problems can be the result of the interaction of personality traits and parenting styles.