Among 21,366 Chinese preschoolers, higher overall dysfunctional parenting scores, particularly laxness and overreactivity, were associated with higher odds of a Total Difficulties Score >14 and lower odds of adequate prosocial behavior, while verbosity showed the opposite association; the findings emphasize the need for balanced parenting and interventions targeting both discipline and parental well-being.
Key Findings
Results
Higher overall dysfunctional parenting scores were associated with much higher odds of a Total Difficulties Score >14 and lower odds of adequate prosocial behavior in Chinese preschoolers.
Sample: 21,366 Chinese preschool children (mean age 4.82 ± 0.89 years; 51.77% boys, 48.23% girls).
Total difficulties: AOR = 4.03; 95% CI: 3.64-4.46.
Overreactivity was associated with higher odds of a Total Difficulties Score >14 and lower odds of adequate prosocial behavior, with stronger associations than laxness.
Total difficulties: AOR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.76-1.90.
Verbosity showed the opposite direction of association, being associated with lower odds of a Total Difficulties Score >14 and higher odds of adequate prosocial behavior.
Total difficulties: AOR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.77-0.84.
Subgroup analyses suggested possible effect modification by parental education level and child age, but most interaction effects were not significant after multiple comparison correction.
Subgroups examined included education level and child age.
Interaction effects largely did not survive multiple comparison correction, so modification evidence is tentative.
The study is cross-sectional, so associations cannot establish causation; outcomes were parent-reported.
Conclusions
The authors conclude that balanced parenting and interventions targeting both discipline and parental well-being are needed to enhance children's mental health.
Both laxness and overreactivity were linked to worse outcomes, while verbosity was linked to better outcomes in this sample.
Conclusion is based on cross-sectional associations in 21,366 preschoolers.
What This Means
This study looked at more than 21,000 Chinese preschool children to see how the way parents discipline their children relates to the children's emotional and behavioral health, as reported by parents. Parents answered questions about three discipline styles: laxness (being too permissive or giving in), overreactivity (reacting with anger or harshness), and verbosity (talking or explaining a lot). Children's mental health was measured with a widely used questionnaire.
Children whose parents scored higher on overall dysfunctional discipline were far more likely to fall in the range of having emotional and behavioral difficulties, and less likely to show adequate prosocial behavior such as sharing and helping. Laxness and especially overreactivity were linked to worse outcomes. Verbosity, in contrast, was linked to fewer difficulties and better prosocial behavior in this sample.
Because this was a snapshot at one point in time and relied on parent reports, the study cannot show that discipline causes these outcomes. Some differences by parental education and child age were hinted at but mostly did not hold up after statistical correction. This research suggests that balanced parenting, and support for parents' own well-being, may be useful targets for programs aimed at improving young children's mental health.
Liu L, Duan M, Sun H. (2026). Associations between dysfunctional parental discipline and parent-reported mental health outcomes in preschoolers: a cross-sectional study.. Frontiers in public health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1964235