The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between parenting attitudes of parents of children and adolescents using a Wee Center and the problem behaviors of their children, and to investigate the effects of parenting attitudes on inter...
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between parenting attitudes of parents of children and adolescents using a Wee Center and the problem behaviors of their children, and to investigate the effects of parenting attitudes on internalizing and externalizing problems. For this purpose, data from 61 cases were analyzed. The participants were children and adolescents who used a Wee Center affiliated with the A Office of Education from 2024 to 2025 and whose parents completed both the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Parenting Attitude Test (PAT). This study was a retrospective data analysis using previously administered standardized psychological test results. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0, including frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, simple regression analysis, and multiple regression analysis.
The main findings of this study are as follows. First, The mean T-scores for total problem behaviors, internalizing problems, and externalizing problems all fell within the borderline clinical range. Second, the correlation analysis between parenting attitudes and problem behaviors showed that rational explanation had significant negative correlations with total problem behaviors, internalizing problems, and externalizing problems, whereas excessive expectation had significant positive correlations with all three variables. In addition, supportive expression, interference, and inconsistency also showed significant associations with some problem behavior variables.
Third, the results of simple regression analysis showed that rational explanation had negative effects on both internalizing and externalizing problems, whereas excessive expectation had positive effects on both. In particular, excessive expectation showed relatively high explanatory power for internalizing problems. Fourth, multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine the relative influence of parenting attitude subfactors. The results showed that excessive expectation was the only subfactor that had a significant positive effect on total problem behaviors and internalizing problems. For externalizing problems, the regression model was statistically significant, but no individual parenting attitude subfactor had a significant effect.
Fifth, the results of simple regression analysis for internalizing syndrome subscales showed that excessive expectation had positive effects on anxious/depressed, withdrawn/depressed, and somatic complaints, while rational explanation had negative effects on anxious/depressed and withdrawn/depressed. Sixth, the analysis of externalizing syndrome subscales showed that rational explanation had negative effects on rule-breaking behavior and aggressive behavior, whereas excessive expectation and inconsistency had positive effects on both. Seventh, the analysis of DSM-oriented behavioral problems showed that rational explanation had negative effects on ADHD, oppositional defiant problems, and conduct problems, whereas excessive expectation and inconsistency had positive effects on all three scales.
These findings suggest that the relationship between parenting attitude subfactors and children’s and adolescents’ problem behaviors may differ depending on the specific subfactor. In particular, rational explanation was found to be negatively associated with both internalizing and externalizing problems, and excessive expectation had significant effects on total problem behaviors and internalizing problems even when other parenting attitude subfactors were considered simultaneously. In addition, inconsistency showed relatively consistent associations with externalizing problems and DSM-oriented behavioral problems. This study is significant in that it examined the relationship between parenting attitudes and problem behaviors among children and adolescents using a Wee Center. The findings may provide basic data for setting directions for parent counseling and parent education in Wee Center counseling practice.