CHILDHOOD ADJUSTMENT: THE EFFECTS OF PARENTING STYLES ON MOOD STATES

Children's adjustment refers to personal, social and family stressors that children have to adapt to. Adjustment is related to personal and family aspects that have influence on children's development. Emotional outcomes and parenting styles that parents use to educate their children are two of those aspects. This study examines parenting styles and emotional outcomes in predicting children's adjustment. The sample consists of 1165 children between 8 and 12 years from primary schools of Valencia. Participants completed the Scales Identification of "Family Educational Practices", The Mood Questionnaire and The Multifactorial Childhood Self-Reported Adjustment Test. The respective authorities and their parents approved the study. Data were statistically analysed using t-test, bivariate correlations and hierarchical regressions. Results indicated that boys score higher on authoritative parenting, maladaptation at school as well as social and general maladaptation. Girls score higher on democratic parenting and fear. Parenting styles are related to emotional outcomes and together they predict children's adjustment (30 % of the variance). These findings reveal that parenting styles have a strong effect on children's adjustment, especially regarding school and social life. Moreover, emotional outcomes are better predictor of children's maladaptation than parenting styles.