The Mediating Role of Parents’ Psychological Hardiness in the Relationship Between Parent-Child Interaction and Children’s Separation Anxiety

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Children’s separation anxiety has many negative consequences both in childhood and in later life. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the mediating role of parents’ psychological hardiness in the relationship between parent-child interaction and children’s separation anxiety.

Methodology: This research was a descriptive from type of correlation. The research population consisted of first-grade students in public schools of Babol city during the 2024-5 academic years with number 5460 people, which 300 students of them were selected as a sample by available sampling method. The research instruments included the Child-Parent Relationship Scale (Pianta, 1992), Ahvaz Psychological Hardiness Questionnaire (Kiamarsi, 1998) and Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders Questionnaire (Birmaher et al., 1999). The data from present research were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients and structural equation modeling methods in SPSS-24 and AMOS-23 software.

Findings: The findings of this study indicated that the model of parents’ psychological hardiness in the relationship between parent-child interaction and children’s separation anxiety had a good fit. In this model, the direct effect of parent-child interaction and parents’ psychological hardiness on children’s separation anxiety was negative and significant and the direct effect of parent-child interaction on parents’ psychological hardiness was positive and significant (P<0.001). Also, the indirect effect of parent-child interaction mediating role of parents’ psychological hardiness on children’s separation anxiety was negative and significant (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Based on the results of the present research, to reduce children’s separation anxiety it is possible to create the conditions for improving parent-child interaction and parents’ psychological hardiness through educational workshops.