From Materal Stress to Offspring symptoms: The mediating role of Parenting in Childhood Psychopathology

Introduction : Stress is a vital survival mechanism; however, prolonged or excessive activation can have numerous adverse physical and psychological effects. This study aimed to examine whether mothers experiencing higher levels of stress during child-rearing exhibit suboptimal parenting styles, and whether this, in turn, is associated with increased behavioral and psychopathological problems in their offspring. Method : A total of 103 mother–child dyads (206 participants) took part in the study. Maternal stress was assessed through hair cortisol concentration and the Perceived Stress Scale; parenting style was measured using the Parenting Scale; and child psychopathology was evaluated via the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Results : The results indicate that higher maternal perceived stress is associated with poorer parenting practices and greater child psychopathology—particularly in the subscales of withdrawn, aggressive behaviour and total problems. Additionally, parenting style functioned as a mediating variable in the relationship between maternal stress and child psychopathology across most CBCL subscales. Conclusion : These findings support the Spillover Model—suggesting that parental emotional distress influences parent–child interactions—and highlight the need to promote prevention and intervention programs focused on parents and family dynamics.