The aim of this study was to examine three distinct parenting styles and their effect on children’s behavioural patterns, as perceived by the child. The parenting styles, based on Baumrind’s typologies of authoritative, authoritarian and permissive parenting, were measured as well as the children’s self-rated internal and external symptoms. Results indicated that there was a relationship between authoritarian parenting and all aspects of internal symptoms (depression, loneliness and self-esteem) as well as delinquency and aggression (external symptoms). Gender had an effect on depression and loneliness with females displaying higher levels. Permissive parenting was the largest contributor to drug use and an effect of age on drug use was also found. In conclusion, the results from this study shows that authoritarian parenting has a detrimental effect on a host of mental health issues and behavioural problems. However, authoritative parenting was shown to have the most positive outcome across the study. Implications for positive parenting style interventions are discussed. In addition, further studies examining parent-child relations from the child’s perspective are suggested.

This study examined parenting style variables in predicting college students’ depression symptoms. Participants were 989 college students who participated in the first wave of the Spit for Science project (Dick et al., 2011). This study described the prevalence of depression symptoms, including the percentage of the sample endorsing various depression symptoms, and the frequency depression scores were elevated at multiple time points. A hierarchical multiple regression was conducted to examine whether two dimensions of parenting style, Autonomy Granting and Parental Involvement, would interact in predicting depression symptoms in the Junior year. The present study demonstrates that parenting style predicts a small but significant amount of variance in depression symptoms, after controlling for demographic characteristics, and these variables interact in producing their effect. Overall, findings suggest that depression symptoms are common and parenting style is relevant in understanding such symptoms.

Mind-Mindedness, a parent’s tendency to attribute thoughts and intentions to his or her child, is related to numerous child outcomes including infant attachment security and child social-cognitive development. Despite established research, the construct is still developing and current research continues to provide clarification. This study sought to contribute to the clarification of mind-mindedness in three main ways. First, the present study examined within-parent consistency with respect to mind-mindedness, parenting stress, and parenting style. Results indicated that parenting stress and parenting style tended to covary for two children in the same family, whereas mind-mindedness did not. Additionally, parents tended to experience different levels of parenting stress or utilize different parenting strategies between their two children. By contrast, significant differences for mind-mindedness were not found. Secondly, the present study examined the relation between mind-mindedness and parenting stress. Results supported an inverse relation between mind-mindedness and parenting stress for the older child. Results also revealed a positive relation between mind-mindedness and parental distress for the younger child; this was specifically relevant for children age 30 months and younger. Multiple interpretations for this finding are explored. Third, this study examined the relations between parenting style, parenting stress, and mind-mindedness. Results indicated two general trends: For the younger children, when parents thought about their child in a more mind-minded manner, they also tended to utilize more authoritative parenting strategies; this parenting style was also related to lower parenting stress. For the older children, when parents thought about their child in a more mind-minded manner, they also tended to utilize less authoritarian parenting strategies as well as experience less parenting stress as related to parent-child dysfunctional interactions. The findings of this study support previous findings regarding mind-mindedness and parenting stress as well as contribute to an improved understanding of the consistency of parenting constructs between two children in the same family and the relation between parenting stress and parenting style. These findings also raise questions for future research with respect to mind-mindedness in very young children. Future research areas and implications are discussed. / Graduate

Objective: To explore 'Maternal Perception of Compliance in Adolescents Model.' The purpose of the model is to explore interrelated factors outside adolescents' agency, but which contribute to maternal perception of severity of compliance in adolescents. This model was originated from reflections on the practice of psychology. Methodology: This inquiry began with pilot studies consisting of a focus group with four parents and an interview. The pilot assisted the fine-tuning the instrument, addressing ethical concerns, forming analytical strategies and gathering a priori themes for the analysis of data from the thesis. The thesis is a qualitative inquiry, data was collected through interviews and utilised a 'maximum variation sampling' of ethnicity (Asian, White, and Black) with socioeconomic status (SES) (low, medium, and high), to recruit six mothers who had adolescent children. Analysis: There was a hybrid approach to the thematic analysis: a) in 'confirmatory analysis,' a priori themes were deductively confirmed and b) in 'exploratory analysis,' new emergent themes were inductively identified. In the first part of the analysis each participant's data was individually analysed, using the hybrid method, to explore the factors that contributed to the model. The second part of the analysis was a 'cross-case analysis,' in which factors identified as contributing to the model, in the first part of the analysis were consolidated to further explore the model. Results: Various types of knowledge (self-reflective, observational, academic, transgenerational, maternal), notions of an ideal child, expectations, style of parenting, style of attribution, maternal anxiety, SES, and single-motherhood were identified as having an effect on the model. In terms of exploration of the model: a) The expectations were largely affected by maternal ideals and standards about adolescents. b) These ideals and standards were derived from their previously acquired knowledge. c) Mothers used the resources at their disposal based on their SES and authoritative parenting style to nurture the child toward their notion of an ideal child. d) The maternal anxiety/single mother/permissive parenting style and some types of knowledge affected the expectation of degree of compliance. e) Mothers often rationalised or justified children's noncompliance through a system called the 'mediating mechanism.' f) Some types of knowledge, mixed parenting style, and external attribution were involved in the 'mediating mechanism.' g) Maternal perception of the extent of adolescents' compliance was based on their degree of expectation of compliance, i.e. the more divergence between the expectations and perception of compliance, the more severe or problematic the perception of compliance. h) Maternal views on compliance varied between mothers, based on their parenting styles. Conclusions: Maternal perception of severity of compliance is not entirely based on children's actual behaviour; rather it is influenced by number of factors that are outside the children's agency. The model, which illustrates how maternal perception of severity of compliance is formed, could have a significant impact on diagnosis and treatment options for compliance related disorders. The subjective diagnostic criteria for evaluating compliance in the DSM-5, augment this complexity in diagnosis and treatment. A larger scale replication of the study is warranted to elicit generalisation.

O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar as relações entre estilos parentais percebidos e uso de drogas por adolescentes, além de testar o poder preditivo dos estilos parentais para o consumo dessas substâncias psicoativas. Para tanto, aplicou-se um inventário sobre o uso de drogas e uma escala de estilos parentais em 649 estudantes de escolas públicas e particulares, 55% eram do sexo feminino, com média de idade de 14,9 anos (DP=1,6). Constatou-se maior frequência de usuários de drogas entre os participantes do ensino fundamental, os de escolas públicas e os com percepção de estilo parental negligente. As variáveis idade, tipo de escola, exigência e responsividade parental compuseram um modelo preditivo para o consumo de drogas. Os resultados indicaram a importância do estilo autoritativo para a prevenção e do negligente para o risco do uso de drogas. / The aim of this study was to verify the relationship between perceived parenting styles and drug use by adolescents, in addition to test the predictive power of parenting styles for the consumption of psychoactive substances. The instruments used were an inventory about the use of drugs and the Brazilian adaptation of a parenting styles scale. The participants were 649 students from public and private schools, 55% were female with a mean age of 14.9 years (SD=1.6). The results showed a higher frequency of drug users among students of elementary and public schools, and among those who presented a perception of negligent parenting style. The variables age, type of school, demandingness and responsiveness composed a predictive model for drug use. The results pointed out the importance of the authoritative style for prevention and the negligent style as a risk factor for drug use.

Obesity has been on the rise for several decades in both children and adults. Furthermore, obesity is associated with diseases. Children's environment is suspected to affect children's eating habits and lack of exercise, but the salient aspects of children's environments are still not well understood. The present research addresses the possibility that work to family spillover may disrupt family eating patterns and children's physical activity sufficient enough to cause weight gain. Other researchers have examined the environment of the family in terms of parenting style and family rituals. This literature however has not examined the possible moderating effect of parenting styles on the effects of work to family spillover on children's obesity. The study included a cross-sectional sample of children and adolescents (n = 312) in a Houston study. Participants included both parents (if a father was present in the household) and one child aged either 9-11 or 13-15. Bivariate, multivariate, and logistic regression analyses were performed. Work to family spillover, family meal rituals and parenting styles were found to have a relationship with children obesity measures for both age groups. However, these relationships are less strong when combined into a full model. Only a mothers' work strain was associated with increased odds of having overweight children in the 9-11 age group. Although the relationship between mothers? work strain and mothers' controlling parenting style and obesity-related variables remained significant, there was no evidence that a maternal or paternal parenting style moderates the relationship between work spillover and children obesity measures. Father dinner ritual importance was associated with lower odds of having overweight children among 13-15 year old adolescents. However, findings did not support hypothesis that family meal ritual variables children eating while watching TV, mother eating while watching TV nor Father dinner ritual (all significant in the full model) moderated the positive relationship between mothers work strain and overweight, at-risk for overweight, or healthy weight children for neither age group.

O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar as relações entre estilos parentais percebidos e uso de drogas por adolescentes, além de testar o poder preditivo dos estilos parentais para o consumo dessas substâncias psicoativas. Para tanto, aplicou-se um inventário sobre o uso de drogas e uma escala de estilos parentais em 649 estudantes de escolas públicas e particulares, 55% eram do sexo feminino, com média de idade de 14,9 anos (DP=1,6). Constatou-se maior frequência de usuários de drogas entre os participantes do ensino fundamental, os de escolas públicas e os com percepção de estilo parental negligente. As variáveis idade, tipo de escola, exigência e responsividade parental compuseram um modelo preditivo para o consumo de drogas. Os resultados indicaram a importância do estilo autoritativo para a prevenção e do negligente para o risco do uso de drogas. / The aim of this study was to verify the relationship between perceived parenting styles and drug use by adolescents, in addition to test the predictive power of parenting styles for the consumption of psychoactive substances. The instruments used were an inventory about the use of drugs and the Brazilian adaptation of a parenting styles scale. The participants were 649 students from public and private schools, 55% were female with a mean age of 14.9 years (SD=1.6). The results showed a higher frequency of drug users among students of elementary and public schools, and among those who presented a perception of negligent parenting style. The variables age, type of school, demandingness and responsiveness composed a predictive model for drug use. The results pointed out the importance of the authoritative style for prevention and the negligent style as a risk factor for drug use.

O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar as relações entre estilos parentais percebidos e uso de drogas por adolescentes, além de testar o poder preditivo dos estilos parentais para o consumo dessas substâncias psicoativas. Para tanto, aplicou-se um inventário sobre o uso de drogas e uma escala de estilos parentais em 649 estudantes de escolas públicas e particulares, 55% eram do sexo feminino, com média de idade de 14,9 anos (DP=1,6). Constatou-se maior frequência de usuários de drogas entre os participantes do ensino fundamental, os de escolas públicas e os com percepção de estilo parental negligente. As variáveis idade, tipo de escola, exigência e responsividade parental compuseram um modelo preditivo para o consumo de drogas. Os resultados indicaram a importância do estilo autoritativo para a prevenção e do negligente para o risco do uso de drogas. / The aim of this study was to verify the relationship between perceived parenting styles and drug use by adolescents, in addition to test the predictive power of parenting styles for the consumption of psychoactive substances. The instruments used were an inventory about the use of drugs and the Brazilian adaptation of a parenting styles scale. The participants were 649 students from public and private schools, 55% were female with a mean age of 14.9 years (SD=1.6). The results showed a higher frequency of drug users among students of elementary and public schools, and among those who presented a perception of negligent parenting style. The variables age, type of school, demandingness and responsiveness composed a predictive model for drug use. The results pointed out the importance of the authoritative style for prevention and the negligent style as a risk factor for drug use.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit definitional impairments in social relatedness; a phenomenon that can be explained, in part, by their deficits in empathy. Despite the extent of these deficits, relatively little is known about which factors promote or impede empathic functioning within this group. To date, studies of neurotypical children and adolescents suggest the explanatory power of temperament, parenting style, and parenting stress; associations which have yet to be adequately explored with ASD. Thus, the overarching aim of this investigation was to test whether the aforementioned intra- and interindividual features would predict empathy amongst children and adolescents with ASD. To account for some of the heterogeneity in ASD, two groups of parent-child dyads were recruited: one comprising male children and adolescents with intact receptive and expressive language (n = 40, M = 7.68 years); the other, males with little to no language use in either domain (n = 40, M = 9.09 years). A third group of parent-child pairs comprising male neurotypical children and adolescents with age-appropriate language functioning was included as a comparison sample (n = 40, M = 9.53 years). Parents completed wellestablished questionnaires pertaining to child/adolescent temperament and empathy, as well as parenting style and parenting stress, primarily via telephonic interviews. Results showed that temperamental regulation and negative affectivity were linked to empathy within the neurotypical group in positive and inverse directions, respectively. Only regulatory processes were positively associated with empathy within the non-verbal ASD group, whilst only negative affectivity was inversely associated to empathy within the verbal ASD group. Further, warm, responsive, autonomy-promoting parenting was positively associated with empathy within the neurotypical group, whilst punitive and lax parenting were inversely associated with empathy. Positive forms of parenting were also found to predict empathy within both ASD groups – though somewhat less so within the verbal ASD group. Perhaps a consequence of the severity of their empathic deficits, lax and permissive parenting techniques were not tied to empathy within the ASD groups. Finally, parenting stress was inversely linked to empathy within the non-verbal ASD and neurotypical groups only. Results highlight that findings obtained within neurotypical samples cannot always be extrapolated to ASD. Results further underscore the need for ASD interventions to adopt a family systems perspective, teaching parents how to perceive and respond to their children in adaptive ways.

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is an illness that significantly reduces the quality of life of those affected by the disorder. Current and past research has established a relationship between an authoritarian parenting style and the development of OCD. There is an absence of research regarding the influence of parenting styles on the development of different subtypes of OCD. This study examined the relationship of Baumrind's parenting styles (permissive, authoritarian, and restrictive) as gathered from participant answers on the Parenting Behavior Questionnaire and the OCD subtypes (contamination, harm, unwanted thoughts, and symmetry) as gathered from participant answers to the Dimensional Obsessive Compulsive Scale. Participants were 140 members of OCD Foundations within the United States, between the ages of 18 and 69, who self-selected to take the online survey that was linked to them by an e-mail from the foundations. A one-way between subjects ANOVA showed no significant difference between the 3 parenting styles and the 4 subtypes of OCD. Future studies should use a clinical sample that isolates participants for the specific diagnosed OCD subtypes. This isolation would eliminate the limitation of this study that had participants answering questions across all subtypes, regardless of their diagnosis. This study may impact social change by furthering the discussion of how parenting and OCD may be related, thus helping scholars, educators, and other professionals to be more proactive in guiding parents when raising their children.