Parenting styles and their correlation with behavioral outcomes in school-aged children: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

This cross-sectional study explores the complex interplay between parenting styles and behavioral outcomes in school-aged children (6–12 years), utilizing data from 600 Flemish families. Through cluster analysis, four parenting styles authoritative, positive authoritative, authoritarian, and uninvolved emerged, each linked to distinct behavioral profiles assessed via the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The authoritative style, characterized by high warmth and control, produced the highest mean SDQ score (85, SD 8.2), signaling robust adaptive behaviors like prosocial tendencies and emotional stability. In contrast, the uninvolved style, marked by low support and control, recorded the lowest score (50, SD 10.1), indicating pronounced difficulties such as conduct issues and peer problems. A detailed table outlines these patterns, while a proposed scatter plot reveals a significant positive correlation (r = 0.68, p< 0.01) between authoritative parenting and favorable outcomes, highlighting its efficacy. These results emphasize that parenting combining structure with nurturance significantly enhances emotional regulation and compliance, providing a strong empirical basis for targeted interventions. By informing parental education programs, this study offers practical strategies to bolster child well-being, addressing behavioral challenges in a critical developmental phase and contributing to the broader discourse on effective parenting practices in contemporary settings.