Predictors of Parental Knowledge and Parenting Styles among Lebanese Mothers: The Role of Education and Time Commitment

Background: Parenting plays a critical role in shaping children’s development, emotional well-being, and social adjustment. Parental knowledge and its impact on parenting styles has been globally identified as one of the several predictors of parenting. In Lebanon, research focusing on Lebanese mothers remains limited, and most studies in the region have not simultaneously examined the joint role of maternal education and time commitment as predictors of parenting practices. Aims and Objectives: This study investigated the relationships between parental knowledge, parenting styles, and sociodemographic factors among 184 Lebanese mothers of young children (2–36 months). Materials and Methods: The data is extracted from the demographic information of a larger study assessing the effectiveness of a preventive parenting program, clusterbased randomized cotnrol trial. (Dirani LA, & al., 2022). Results: Parental knowledge (Caregiver Knowledge of Child Development Inventory) was positively associated with higher education levels (graduate/postgraduate) but negatively correlated with time spent with children. Authoritarian parenting was negatively predicted by higher education and employment status, while permissive parenting was negatively associated with higher income and education levels. Authoritative parenting was positively associated with higher income, education, and greater parental time commitment (over 3 h/day). Conclusion: These findings highlight the multifaceted nature of parenting in Lebanon and underscore the importance of education and socioeconomic factors in shaping parental knowledge and parenting styles, offering valuable insights for designing culturally appropriate parenting interventions.