Aggression in childhood: Parenting style as related factor.

Abstract

This current study proposes to analyse the possible relationship which exists between aggression in children reported by parents through the BASC (Behaviour Assessment System for Children), and the parenting style according to the PCRI (Parent-Child Relationship Inventory) composed of seven factors such as support, satisfaction with parenting, involvement, communication, limit setting, autonomy granting, and role orientation, in a sample of 338 children (182 male & 156 female) between 3 and 14 years old. The results show the existence of a significant relationship between aggression in children and the majority of the parenting factors. Furthermore, a model is established which is able to predict 27% of the variance with respect to aggression in children, made up by limit setting from both parents, involvement and satisfaction with parenting from the fathers, and autonomy granting from the mothers. Finally, the utility of results to raise intervention strategies within the family based on limit setting is discussed.

Key words: Aggression, parents, parenting style, limit setting.