Speelt het bieden van structuur in de opvoeding van het jonge kind een rol in opvoedingsstress bij ouders?

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this research was to gain insight in the relationship between providing structure as a parent of a young child and parenting stress. The difference between mothers and fathers within this subject has also been examined. Providing structure as a parent is seen as an important element, because providing structure as a parent is associated with a positive development of the children. Nevertheless, providing structure can lead to parenting stress, which is related to problems seen by children and their parents. Method: Participants included 287 mainly Dutch mothers, fathers, and children from the age of 18 months to 5 years old. The participants were asked to fill out two questionnaires, the Nijmeegse Ouderlijke Stress Index verkort (NOSI-K) and the Early Childhood Parenting Questionnaire (CECPAQ). De NOSI-K measures parenting stress. The CECPAQ measures different domains of parenting. Only the domain ‘structure’ is used during this research. Results: A significant, negative relationship has been found between parenting stress and providing structure as a parent. No significant difference has been found between mothers and fathers on parenting stress and providing structure as a parent. Conclusion: These results show that providing structure as a parent can lead to less parenting stress. No differences were found between mothers and fathers so the relationship between parenting stress and proving structure as a parent concerns both genders equally.