Parental Satisfaction and Parenting Style among Iranian Parents of Children and Adolescents with Conduct Disorder: A Cross-Sectional and Descriptive-Correlational Study

Background Conduct disorder (CD) is a psychiatric disorder related to childhood or adolescence that is manifested by antisocial behaviors and lack of compliance with social laws and norms. CD related limitations, along with its consequences on affected individuals, may be associated with the detrimental parent-child relationships in the form of unfavorable Parenting Style (PST) and Parental Satisfaction (PSA). Objectives This study aimed to assess CD severity in affected individuals and measure PST, IPST, and PSA levels in their parents, along with exploring correlations between these variables and CD severity, alongside other sociodemographic indicators. Methods The total number of 60 parents of children and adolescents with CD have participated in the present cross-sectional and descriptive-correlational study according to the inclusion criteria and convenience sampling method. In order to evaluate the levels of PST, IPST and PSA among parents, along with their correlations with the severity of CD in their children and adolescents, the questionnaires of “Socio-Demographic Information Questionnaire (SDIQ)”, “Dibble and Cohen Parent Report (DCPR)”, “Kansas Parental Satisfaction Scale (KPSS)”, and “Rating Scale for Diagnosis of Conduct Disorder (RSDCD)” were utilized. Eventually, the SPSS version 26 was utilized to analyze the final data. Results Most of the participants had “normal” levels of PSA, PST and IPST (66.7%, 51.7% and 65.0% respectively). In addition, most of the children and adolescents demonstrated remarkable severity of CD (146.42 ± 17.14). Besides, the correlations between “severity of CD” with “PST”, “IPST” and “PSA” were significant and inverse (r= -0.44, p = 0.001, r= -0.42, p = 0.001 and r= -0.27, p = 0.03). Finally, the cross-correlation obtained between “demographic characteristics with PSA, PST, IPST and severity of CD” were different and varied. Bayesian analysis reveals strong mutual correlations and predictive power between PSA, PST, CD severity, and sociodemographic factors. Conclusion Conclusion: Participants showed normal levels of “PSA,” “PST,” and “IPST.” The severity of CD was considerable among children and adolescents, significantly inversely correlating with “PST,” “IPST,” and “PSA.” Cross-correlations with varying significance levels were found between participants' socio-demographic characteristics and “PSA,” “PST,” “IPST,” and CD severity.