Parenting practices and child behavior problems in Hong Kong: effects of knowledge of effective parenting strategies, parenting stress, and child-rearing ideologies

Abstract

This study investigated effects of three factors, knowledge of effective parenting strategies, parenting stress and Chinese child ideologies, on parenting practices and child behavior problems. 106 Hong Kong parents finished the questionnaire via the Internet. Results showed that parenting stress was the strongest predictor on parental nurturance (negatively associated), dysfunctional parenting and child behavior problems (both positively associated). Knowledge of effective parenting strategies only negatively predicted dysfunctional parenting while Chinese child-rearing ideologies did not predict any parents or child behavior. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.