Parenting knowledge moderates the association between parent and child internalizing symptoms.

Abstract

Parent anxiety and depression are well-established risk factors for childhood internalizing problems. While effective parenting may buffer this relationship, the role of parenting knowledge, defined as understanding evidence-based parenting strategies, remains underexplored. Using a nationally representative sample of 1,000 parents of children aged 5-12, we examined whether parenting knowledge moderated the association between parent and child symptoms of anxiety and depression. Results indicated significant moderation effects: Among parents with lower knowledge, there were strong positive associations between parent and child internalizing symptoms, whereas among those with higher knowledge, these associations were significantly weaker. Findings held even after adjusting for key demographic covariates and sensitivity analyses. These results suggest that parenting knowledge may serve as a protective factor within families experiencing psychological distress and highlight its potential as a target for prevention and early intervention efforts. This study contributes to a growing literature on cognitive protective mechanisms in parent-child mental health dynamics. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).