Abstract

Based on the assumption that similar mechanisms in normal socialization are responsible for developing gender differences in psychopathology, we examined the correlations between parenting and the problematic behavior of children. Our focus was whether parents were more overreactive toward children displaying gender stereotype-inconsistent behavior and more lax towards those with gender stereotype-consistent behavior. Such parenting styles then encourage psychologically difficult infants and toddlers to be socialized to express their problems in gender-stereotyped ways. As a part of large study, 160 parents of preschool-aged children (72 girls and 88 boys) from six different day-care centers, completed three questionnaires: the Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach & Edelbrock, 1991) and the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (Robinson, Eyberg, & Ross, 1980) were used to assess children's externalizing and internalizing behavior, while the Parenting Scale (Arnold, Wolff, & Acker, 1993) assessed lax and overreactive parenting styles. There were significant correlations between parenting style and children's problematic behavior as a function of the child's gender. In addition, we found these relationships moderated according to the families' sociocultural background. We argue that parent's differential treatment of children in terms of gender, as well as family sociocultural status, might be risk factors for children of preschool age in developing behavioral or psychological problems which are consistent with gender stereotypes.