Latent Profiles of Parenting Styles and Internalising and Externalising Behaviour Problems and Smartphone Dependency Among Children in Foster Care

ABSTRACT The study aimed to classify latent profiles of foster parents' parenting styles and examine their associations with internalising and externalising behaviour problems and smartphone dependency among children in foster care. Data were drawn from the National Center for the Rights of the Child's panel study ( N = 4413 dyads), and a subsample of 451 parents–child dyads in foster care was utilised for the final analysis. Using a person‐centred approach, the study conducted latent profile analysis and identified three distinct parenting styles: (1) controlling, (2) permissive and (3) ambivalent. Results showed that children of controlling parents were at higher risk of internalising problems, while children of permissive parents were more likely to exhibit smartphone dependency. There was no significant difference in externalising behaviour problems between latent groups. Child age and household monthly income significantly predicted the latent profiles. These findings highlight the importance of developing effective family‐based interventions improving parenting styles and education targeting foster parents. Results of the study provide both clinical and policy implications for positive child development and offer direction for future research.