Early Childhood Behavioural Problems and Child Maltreatment: The Mediating Role of Parenting Stress

Abstract

Child maltreatment is an international health problem. Previous studies found that characteristics of children and parents were connected to child maltreatment; however, most studies focused on parenting factors. It is unclear how child behavioural problems perceived by parents are associated with child maltreatment. This study examined the association between parental perceptions of child behavioural problems and child maltreatment, and the mediating role of parenting stress in the above relationship. We conducted a cross-sectional school-based study, including 1390 parents of preschool children aged between three and five living in a city of Henan, China. Child maltreatment, child behavioural problems, and parenting stress were assessed by the Chinese revised version of Parent–Child Conflict Strategy Scale, Devereux Early Childhood Assessment for Preschoolers (Second Edition), and the Simplified Parenting Stress Index/Short Form, respectively. All questionnaires were completed by parents through online surveys. Child behavioural problems were positively associated with child maltreatment (β = 0.88, p < 0.01), controlling for nine socio-demographic variables. The study also revealed that parenting stress could partially mediate the relationship between child behavioural problems and child maltreatment.The present study examined the child-driven effects on child maltreatment, underlining the importance of parental perceptions of child behavioural problems for increased child maltreatment. Parents who perceived their children problematic were more likely to be stressed and exert parenting problems; therefore, programs should include strategies for relieving parenting stress.