Influence of Parenting Styles on Problematic Behaviours of Migrant Children

Abstract

The living environment of migrant children changes dramatically when they settle in cities with their parents. If migrant children do not adapt well to the new environment, they may develop psychological deviations and internalised problematic behaviours. Research has shown that poor parenting styles increase the incidence of children's psychological problems and easily trigger problematic behaviours in migrant children. This study explores four aspects of the relationship between parenting styles and migrant children's internalised and externalised problems, the effects of different parenting styles on migrant children's internalised and externalised problems, and further illustrates the mediating roles of migrant children's self-esteem, parent-child relationship, and social support between the two. It was found that positive parenting styles were negatively related to the problematic behaviours of migrant children, while negative parenting styles increased the occurrence of migrant children's internalisation problems; negative parenting styles increased the likelihood of migrant children's externalisation problems, while positive parenting styles could, to a certain extent, stifle the emergence of the aforementioned externalisation problems. Therefore, schools and society should pay attention to the correct guidance of parents' communication and expression styles, and at the same time pay attention to the establishment of a warm atmosphere and a pleasant communication process in the family, so as to reduce the internalisation problems of migrant children. In addition, if migrant children have externalisation problems, parents, schools and society should help them to set up good behavioural models and provide them with timely and correct guidance.