How Paternal and Maternal Psychological Control Affect on Internalizing and Externalizing Problems of Children with ODD Symptoms

The current study aimed to explore the characteristics of internalizing(depression) and externalizing(aggressive behavior) problem of children with ODD(Oppositional Defiant Disorder) symptoms,and investigate how paternal and maternal psychological control affected on internalizing and externalizing problems of these children.Furthermore,the study also explored if the self-esteem would play a mediator role and children's gender would play a moderate role in the relationship between parental psychological control and children's problems.Particularly,this study approached if there would be difference between paternal and maternal psychological control and between effect of parental psychological control on children's internalizing and externalizing problems.Totally,340 children with ODD symptoms and their 158 class helpers from 14 elementary schools in Beijing,Shandong and Yunnan attended the study and completed the questionnaire.Children themselves completed scales of Parental Psychological Control,Children's Self-esteem and Depression;and their class helpers completed the Children's Aggression in School.During selection the children,first,the class helpers nominated the children who may have ODD symptoms from 7966 primary students using ODD symptoms assessment(from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,DSM-IV).Second,2 clinical psychologists and the school mental health educator assured the assessment with the class helpers and decided the eligible participants.Descriptive analysis,ANOVA,Person correlation analysis and regression analysis were used to analysis data.Data analysis revealed that:(1) Compared to girls,more boys had symptoms of ODD,as well as more serious emotional and behavioral problems,and lower self-esteem;(2) Boys perceived significant much more paternal psychological control than girls,but not in maternal psychological control;(3) Both paternal and maternal psychological control was positively correlated with children's depression and aggressive behavior.Higher paternal psychological control was associated with increased depression and aggressive behavior,and higher maternal psychological was associated with only increase aggressive behavior;(4) Self-esteem played mediated role both in the relationship between paternal psychological control and children's problems and maternal psychological control and children's problems.