| dc.description.abstract | Objective: The focus of this study is to examine the relationship between externalising behavior of toddlers and parenting stress of mothers, with gender of the child as a moderating factor. Firstly, it was examined whether externalising behavior of toddlers would be correlated to the amount of parenting stress that mothers would experience. Secondly, it was examined whether the child's gender moderated this association. Method: Mothers were recruited via schools and via personal social networks. A total of 173 mothers completely filled out questionnaires about the externalising behavior of their 1,5 to 4 year old child (CBCL, Achenbach, 1991) and the amount of parenting stress they had experienced (NOSI-K, de Brock et al., 1992). Results: Externalising behavior of toddlers significantly correlates to the amount of parenting stress that mothers experience. Gender of the child did not have a main effect on parenting stress of mothers, but the interaction effect of gender and externalising behaviors turned out to be significant. Boys with externalising behavior correlate with higher levels of parenting stress within mothers, more so than girls with externalising behavior. Implications: These results should be taken into account when creating or updating prevention- and intervention programs, due to the fact that these programs must acknowledge the differences in externalising behavior and their effects within boys and girls. | |
