The Role of Parental Mindfulness and Parenting Stress in Predicting Everyday Parent–Child Conflicts Among Elementary School Children
Keywords:
parental mindfulness, parenting stress, everyday parent–child conflictsAbstract
The present study aimed to investigate the role of parental mindfulness and parenting stress in predicting everyday parent–child conflicts among elementary school children in Shiraz. In terms of its objective, this was an applied study, and in terms of methodology, it employed a correlational design. The statistical population consisted of all mothers of children aged 7–12 years residing in Shiraz during the 2025–2026 academic year whose children were enrolled in public or private elementary schools in the city. Using convenience sampling, 180 individuals from the statistical population were selected as the study sample. The research instruments included the McCaffrey Mindfulness in Parenting Questionnaire, the Abidin Parenting Stress Index, and the Straus Parent–Child Conflict Questionnaire (1990). The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 at both descriptive and inferential levels. At the inferential level, the hypotheses were tested using simultaneous multiple regression analysis. The results indicated that the dimensions of parental mindfulness collectively explained 18% of the variance in everyday parent–child conflict scores. Among the dimensions of parental mindfulness, mindful discipline and being in the moment with the child negatively and significantly predicted everyday parent–child conflicts. The findings also demonstrated that the dimensions of parenting stress collectively explained 24% of the variance in everyday parent–child conflict scores. Among the dimensions of parenting stress, parental distress, dysfunctional parent–child interaction, and having a difficult child positively and significantly predicted everyday parent–child conflicts.
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References
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