The Mediating Role of Parenting Stress in the Relationship Between Maternal Neuroticism and Separation Anxiety in Children with Behavioral Problems

Olad Khatib, Nahal; Musavi Asl, Seyyed Ali

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year 15, Issue 7 (1st Autumn 2026 2026) Rooyesh 2026, 15(7): 181-190 | Back to browse issues page

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Olad Khatib N, Musavi Asl S A. (2026). The Mediating Role of Parenting Stress in the Relationship Between Maternal Neuroticism and Separation Anxiety in Children with Behavioral Problems. , Rooyesh. 15(7), 181-190.
URL: http://frooyesh.ir/article-1-7392-en.html

The Mediating Role of Parenting Stress in the Relationship Between Maternal Neuroticism and Separation Anxiety in Children with Behavioral Problems

Nahal Olad Khatib¹

, Seyyed Ali Musavi Asl ^*²

1- Master of Science in Personality Psychology, Department of Psychology, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2- Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Payame Noor University, Iran. samusavi@pnu.ac.ir , samusavi@pnu.ac.ir

Abstract: (204 Views)

The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the mediating role of parenting stress in the relationship between maternal neuroticism and separation anxiety in children with behavioral problems. This descriptive correlational study was conducted using structural equation modeling. The statistical population of the study consisted of mothers who visited counseling and psychological service centers in Tehran in 2025 due to their children's behavioral problems. 200 people participated in this study in person using purposive sampling from 5 centers. Data were collected using the Parenting Stress Index- Short Form (PSI-SF; Abidin, 1990), the NEO Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI; Costa and McCrae’s, 1992), and the Children's Separation Anxiety Scale–Parent Version (CSAS-P; Méndez et al., 2022). Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling. The findings showed that the proposed model had a favorable fit; Maternal neuroticism and parental stress were positively and significantly related to children's separation anxiety (P<0.05); maternal neuroticism and parental stress were positively and significantly related (P<0.05). Also, the results of the bootstrap test showed that maternal parental stress played a mediating role in the relationship between maternal neuroticism and children's separation anxiety (P<0.05). Overall, it can be concluded that maternal personality trait of neuroticism can lead to increased separation anxiety in children, both directly and through the mediation of increased parenting stress.

Keywords: Neuroticism, Parental Stress, Separation Anxiety.

Full-Text [PDF 604 kb] (78 Downloads)

Type of Article: Research | Subject: Clinical Psychology
Received: 2026/09/2 | Accepted: 2026/09/22 | ePublished: 2026/10/2