Predictors of authoritative (democratic) parenting style: psychological flexibility and the mediating role of co-parenting

Abstract

Parenting style has a significant impact on children. An authoritative (democratic) parenting style is associated with children displaying more health-related behaviors, more self‐esteem, more self-control, more social skills and coping, and other positive outcomes. However, the variables that predict whether parents adopt this positive parenting style has been understudied. OBJETIVOS: The aim of this study is to identify predictors of an authoritative parenting style among parents caring for children between 0 to 6 years old. The study explores how psychological flexibility could affect parents’ authoritative style by considering the mediating role of co-parenting. METODOLOGÍA: Fifty-three mothers and fathers (mean age = 40, 2 years, 62.3% female) participated in this study by completing a questionnaire. The data collected was analyzed using correlations and ROCESS mediation models. RESULTADOS: The results suggest that higher levels of psychological flexibility were indirectly (standardized coefficient =.151, CI =.041 -.312) Associated with higher levels of authoritative parenting style through its association with higher levels of co-parenting (standardized coefficient =.406, CI =.239 – 1.034). Additionally, co-parenting was associated employing authoritative style (standardized=.371, CI=.062-0.501). The final model explained 23.5% Of the variation in adopting an authoritative parenting style. CONCLUSIÓN: Results shows relevant variables associated with adopting an Authoritative style. Adopting a more flexible relation with one’s emotional and cognitive concerns of parenting, may be associated with a higher perception of your partner as a source of support, and therefore, associated with the development of a more adaptive parenting style. Psychological interventions - like parent school programs addressed to teach better parenting styles- may focus their efforts on increasing co-parenting levels, through an improvement of psychological flexibility processes, thereby encouraging authoritative parenting and resulting in various possible positive outcomes for both children and parents.