The relationship between parental conflict and preschool children's behavior problems: A moderated mediation model of parenting stress and child emotionality

Based on process model and the organism-environment interaction model, the present study examined a possible pathway to better understand the relationships between parental conflict and their children's externalizing and internalizing behavior problems through parenting stress and child emotionality. Mothers (N = 2925) of preschool children in China completed questionnaires regarding parental conflict, children's behavior problems, parenting stress, and child emotionality. Results indicated that parenting stress partially mediated the association between parental conflict and both of children's externalizing and internalizing behavior problems. The mediating effects of parenting stress in the relationship between parental conflict and children's behavior problems were moderated by child emotionality. Specifically, the relationship between parental conflict and children's behavior problems via parenting stress was stronger for children with high (vs. low) negative emotionality. Limitations and implications of this study were discussed.