The Relationship between Parents' Socioeconomic Status and Children's Social Development: The Mediating Role of Family Rearing Styles

Jiaying Chen

doi:10.6918/IJOSSER.202601_9(1).0011

Authors

Jiaying Chen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6918/IJOSSER.202601_9(1).0011

Keywords:

Socioeconomic Status, Parenting Style, Mediating Effect, Children's Social Development

Abstract

This study explored the relationships between parental socioeconomic status (SES), parenting styles, and children's social development, focusing on parenting styles' mediating role. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 410 primary school students (Grades 3-6) in Shenzhen and their families, using a parental SES composite index, the Short-form Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran (S-EMBU-C), and the Children's Social Development Scale. Results showed: (1) Parental SES and positive parenting styles were significantly positively correlated with children's social development, while negative parenting styles were significantly negatively correlated; (2) Parental SES directly positively predicted children's social development and indirectly influenced it via parenting styles; (3) Parenting styles played a partial mediating role, with fathers' positive parenting and mothers' negative parenting showing particularly significant mediating effects. This study clarifies the mechanism of parenting styles and provides empirical support for improving children's social development via parenting interventions.

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