The impact of maternal emotional intelligence and parenting style on child's anxiety and behavior the dental setting

Abstract

The attitudes and the emotions of parents have profound effects on the emotional development of children, and could have profound effects on preschool childEs anxiety and behaviour in stressful conditions. The present study investigated the correlations between maternal emotional intelligence (EQ), parenting style, child trait anxiety and child behaviour in the dental setting. Methods. A total of 117 children, aged 4-6 years old (mean 5.24 years), and their mothers participated in the study. The BumrindEs parenting style questionnaire and Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory were used to quantify parenting style and maternal emotional intelligence. ChildrenEs anxiety and behavior was evaluated using the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS) and Frankl behavior scale. PearsonEs correlation coefficient was used for assessment of correlations between variables. Multivariate regression analysis was used for assessment of predicting factors of child behavior. Results. A significant correlation was found between maternal EQ and child behaviour (r=0.330; p<0.01). There was no significant correlation between motherEs total EQ and childEs total anxiety; however, some subscales of EQ and anxiety showed significant correlations. There were significant correlations between authoritarian parenting style and separation anxiety (r=0.186; p<0.05) as well as authoritative parenting style and motherEs EQ (r=0.286; p<0.01). There was no significant correlation between child anxiety and behaviour (r=-0.81). Regression analysis revealed maternal EQ is effective in predicting child behaviour (=0.360; p<0.01). Conclusion. The childEs behaviour in the dental setting is correlated with motherEs EQ. Moreover, emotionally-intelligent mothers were found to have predominantly authoritative parenting style.