Relationship Between Parenting Style and Aggression in a Spanish Children Sample

Abstract

The aim of this study is to ascertain whether there are any differences in the parenting style received by two groups of children who obtain low-risk and high-risk scores, respectively, in relation to aggressive behaviour and determine which parenting variables are linked with the presence or absence of this kind of problematic behaviour. We selected a sample of 33 children between 3 and 14 years old (21 male and 12 female) with risk scores in aggressive behaviour and another similar group with low scores in this variable. After administering both instruments to the parents, we carried out a binomial logistic regression analysis which resulted in a prediction model for the 87.9% of the sample, made up of the parenting variables: father‟s satisfaction with parenting and role orientation, and mother‟s autonomy and limit setting. Moreover, our analysis of the variance revealed significant differences in the support and communication perceived by the fathers and mothers of both groups. Lastly, the utility of results to propose intervention strategies within the family based on fathers involvement and an authoritative style is discussed.