Parenting Practices and Children's Mental Health: Moderating COVID-19 Stressors Experienced by Brazilian Parents

Aim: To examine whether the stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic moderate the relationship between parental educational practices and children's emotional and behavioral problems. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered family routines, and children, with their limited ability to understand and interpret these changes, have been particularly vulnerable to stress. Method: An explanatory design was used with a sample of 135 Brazilian parents (mothers or fathers) who lived with a child aged between 6 and 11 years. Participants completed the Sociodemographic Data Questionnaire, the Parenting Practices Inventory, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and the COVID-19 Stress Response Questionnaire remotely. Results: Coercive discipline significantly interacted with COVID-19 stressors in relation to emotional and behavioral problems. Increased perception of stressors intensified the association between coercive discipline and conduct problems, peer issues, and internalizing problems in children. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the use of coercive discipline, negatively impacting children's mental health. Implications: The findings highlight the need to enhance and reinforce parenting skills to better manage stressful situations, thereby safeguarding the parent-child relationship and mitigating the negative effects of the pandemic on children.