Is the ‘strict father, kind mother’ pattern still beneficial? disparities in parenting styles and their effects on college students′ mental health

Although individual parenting styles are known to affect adolescent mental health, the impact of interparental discrepancies remains less understood. This study tested three hypotheses: (H1) interparental discrepancies in parenting styles predict college students′ mental health; (H2) these discrepancies exert stronger effects than overall parenting quality; and (H3) maternal dimensions are more strongly associated with psychological symptoms than paternal dimensions. A sample of 1,132 undergraduates completed the Parental Bonding Instrument and the Symptom Checklist−90. Results showed that greater parenting style disparities predicted poorer mental health. However, when comparing the interparental disparities and the overall levels, disparities in care were less strongly related to mental health than the overall level of parental care. Furthermore, when comparing maternal and paternal effects, maternal rejection, low autonomy, and high overprotection showed stronger associations with psychological symptoms. Findings highlight the importance of addressing interparental discrepancies, informing family interventions, and encouraging longitudinal and cross-cultural research.