To explore the effects of parenting style on emotional and behavioral problems (EBPs) of preschool children and to provide theoretical reference for promoting children's physical and mental health.

In October-November 2021, a stratified cluster random sampling method was adopted to select 3 575 preschool children aged 3-6 years from 12 kindergartens in Hefei. Data on parenting styles and children's EBPs were collected through electronic questionnaires. Binary Logistic regression model was used to explore the effects of parenting styles on children's EBPs.

The detection rates of emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer interaction problems, and prosocial behavior problems were 15.5% (n=554), 23.2% (n=830), 22.4% (n=802), 38.2% (n=1 367), and 29.5% (n=1 055) in preschool children, respectively. Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for covariates such as child's age, sex, and preterm birth, a high authoritative parenting style reduced the risk of EBPs in children (OR=0.29-0.78), while a high authoritarian (OR=1.36-2.15) and high permissive (OR=1.36-1.68) parenting style in mothers increased the risk of EBPs in children (all P < 0.05). Further stratified analysis indicated that among children with fathers exhibiting high authoritative, high authoritarian, or high permissive parenting styles, a high authoritative parenting style in mothers reduced the risk of peer interaction problems and prosocial behavior problems (OR=0.51, 0.30; 0.44, 0.23; 0.51, 0.29, all P < 0.05). Among children with fathers exhibiting a high authoritative parenting style, a high authoritarian parenting style in mothers increased the risk of emotional problems (OR=2.59), and both high authoritarian and high permissive parenting styles in mothers increased the risk of conduct problems (OR=3.25, 2.09) and hyperactivity problems (OR=2.35, 2.87) (all P < 0.05). Among children with fathers exhibiting high authoritarian or high permissive parenting styles, a high authoritarian parenting style in mothers increased the risk of EBPs (OR=1.65-2.71, 1.62-2.52, all P < 0.05).

Parenting style is an important factor affecting EBPs of preschool children, and appropriate parenting style is beneficial for children's psychological development.