Educational styles, parenting stressors and psychopathological symptoms in parents of adolescents with high-risk behaviours

Aims: The main goal of this study was to determine the characteristics of parents who sought help from two prevention programmes due to having an adolescent child who presents high-risk behaviours. Methods: The sample was composed of 374 parents (169 fathers and 205 mothers). Information on socio-demographic characteristics, psychopathological symptoms, emotional states, educational styles and maladjustment to everyday life was collected. Findings: The results show statistically differences by gender. Mothers obtained a higher degree of psychopathology symptoms, maladjustment and parental stress relative to fathers. Mothers also used more frequently authoritative and permissive parenting styles. In general, authoritarian and permissive parenting styles and stressful perceptions of the parental role are associated with more psychopathological symptoms and with maladjustment. Finally, the following variables predicted the severity of psychopathological symptoms: secondary education, maladjustment, stressful perceptions of the parental role and authoritarian and permissive parenting styles. Conclusions: This study highlights the need to assess the psychological problems of parents of adolescents with high-risk behaviours and to develop specific intervention programmes.