Contribution of Marital Stability to Parenting Styles: A Cross-Sectional Study of Iranian Mothers in Intact Marriages

In an extension of previous research investigating the association between marital conflict and child rearing practices, this study aimed to show how a discordant marital relationship relates to parenting methods within a collectivist context. Using a cluster sampling method, a representative sample of 336 Iranian mothers, living in intact families was surveyed. Measurements included; parenting style, marital conflict, and marital satisfaction. Mothers were also asked questions regarding their perceived control over their children’s daily lives, and the children’s tendency to engage in high-risk behaviors. Parents with the highest levels of marital conflict and the lowest levels of satisfaction, valued authoritarian parenting more often, and were less likely to adhere to authoritative methods. Regarding control, mothers in conflictual marriages were less likely to control the indoor and outdoor activities of their children. On the other hand, they expressed greater concern with respect to the engagement of their children in various high-risk behaviors. The findings are discussed in relation to the available literature and the collectivist background of Iranian society.