Relationship between parental stress and child problem behavior

The importance of stress for the development of family dysfunction and child misbehavior is often cited, but only few empirical works support the relationship between parental stress and dysfunctions in family members. This lack of empirical basis is especially evident in the case of the three main predictors of negative child outcome within family variables: parenting, communication, and parents' well-being. This article proposes a theoretical model framing the relationship between stress, parental functioning, and child behavior. Based upon this model, the current study, analyzing data from 255 parents, has been conducted. Results reveal that an association between stress, poor parenting, communication problems, and negative well-being and child problems exists.