Identification and Ranking of Factors Influencing Parental Role Conflict in One-Child Families
Keywords:
Parental role conflict, one-child families, emotional regulation, family well-being, marital dynamics, parenting stressAbstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify and rank the psychological, relational, and contextual factors contributing to parental role conflict in one-child families.
Methods and Materials: This research employed a sequential mixed-method design consisting of two complementary phases. In the qualitative phase, a systematic literature review was conducted, and the extracted data were analyzed using NVivo 14 through open, axial, and selective coding until theoretical saturation was achieved. Seven main thematic categories were identified: Parenting Expectations and Role Strain, Emotional Regulation and Stress Management, Marital Relationship Dynamics, Socioeconomic and Cultural Pressures, Child-Centered Dependency, Psychological Well-being of Parents, and Support Systems and Coping Resources. In the quantitative phase, a structured questionnaire based on the qualitative results was administered to 230 parents of one-child families living in Tehran, selected through convenience sampling. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 and the Friedman test to rank the importance of the identified factors.
Findings: The Friedman test revealed significant differences in the ranking of factors influencing parental role conflict (p < 0.05). Parenting Expectations and Role Strain received the highest mean rank (6.35), followed by Emotional Regulation and Stress Management (5.92) and Marital Relationship Dynamics (5.48). Support Systems and Coping Resources was ranked lowest (3.71). The results highlight that intrapersonal and relational dimensions have a stronger predictive influence on role conflict than external socioeconomic conditions.
Conclusion: Parental role conflict in one-child families is primarily driven by emotional and cognitive factors, particularly perfectionistic parenting expectations, emotional dysregulation, and marital tension. Addressing these determinants through psychological skills training, marital support, and social resource enhancement could significantly mitigate parental strain and improve family well-being.
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