Parental conflict and child behaviour problems: the role of parenting behaviours and child temperament

To explore the link between interparental conflict and child behaviour problems, the present study, based on the family system theory and the spillover theory, examined maternal parenting behaviour as a potential mediator and child temperament as moderator. Mothers (N = 1,171) of primary school students (Age: M = 7.97, SD = 1.08; 44.7% girls) answered questionnaires. Results revealed that positive and negative parenting behaviours partially mediated the association between interparental conflict and child behaviour problems, with the mediating effect of negative parenting stronger than that of positive parenting behaviours. Negative emotionality moderated the relationship between negative parenting behaviours and children's behaviour problems. These results indicate that children with higher negative emotionality were more likely to be impacted by negative parenting and develop more behaviour problems. No interaction effect was found for effortful control. The moderating effect was in line with the diathesis-stress model, indicating that negative emotionality served as a vulnerability factor, rather than a susceptibility factor.