Linking Work Stress, Parental Self-Efficacy, Ineffective Parenting, and Youth Problem Behavior

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among work stress, parental self-efficacy, ineffective parenting behavior, and youth problem behaviors. Questionnaires were collected from 297 families assessing parent perceptions of work stress and parental self-efficacy; youth perceptions of ineffective parenting behavior; and parent, youth, and teacher perceptions of youth internalizing and externalizing problem behavior. There was evidence of work to family spillover, in that work stress (mothers’ work-family conflict and fathers’ job dissatisfaction) was linked to diminished parental self-efficacy and increased ineffective parenting behaviors, which in turn, were associated with higher levels of youth internalizing and externalizing problem behavior. Additionally, lower mothers’ parental self-efficacy was directly related to youth externalizing problem behavior, and lower fathers’ parental self-efficacy was directly related to youth internalizing and externalizing problem behavior. Finally, higher work-family conflict for fathers was directly associated with youth internalizing problem behavior. The discussion included a suggestion of the implementation of workplace parenting and family support strategies which could increase parental self-efficacy and decrease the use of ineffective parenting.