Maternal parenting stress and young children’s environmental adaptation: Maternal depression and children’s problem behaviors mediation

Siyao Yan, Ruiqian Li^*
Department of Early Childhood Education, School of Education and Psychology, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
* Corresponding Author: Ruiqian Li. Email: email

Journal of Psychology in Africa https://doi.org/10.32604/jpa.2026.076574

Received 22 November 2025; Accepted 24 April 2026; Published online 09 July 2026

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Abstract

This study investigated the roles of maternal depression and children’s problem behaviors in the relationship between maternal parenting stress and children’s environmental adaptation by the heterogeneity of maternal stress profiles. Data from 204 Chinese mothers who completed the Parenting Stress Questionnaire, Depression Scale, Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire, and Preschooler Kindergarten Adaptation Assessment Scale were analyzed in mother-child dyads. Results from structural equation modeling, Bayesian comparison, and latent profile analysis, yielded two significant parallel mediation pathways: behavioral and emotional. The behavioral pathway (via children’s problem behaviors) was 2.63 times stronger than the emotional pathway (via maternal depression), regarding girl children in particular. Latent profile analysis identified three distinct maternal stress types: “Low Stress-High Adaptation” (32.7%), “Behavioral Compensation” (51.1%, primary stress from child’s difficult temperament), and “Emotional Transference” (16.2%, primary stress from self-distress). The findings underscore the integrated dual-path model of family stress that parenting stress impedes child adaptation. Parent or family support interventions should be tailored behavioural coping and mental health supports for vulnerable mother and child dyads.