Analyzing the relationship between parent's irrational beliefs and their children's behavioral problems and family function

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the relationship between parent?s irrational beliefs about being parent and their children?s behavioral problems and family function. The participants of the study were 520 mothers-fathers, whose children are studying primary school (7-12 years old), were eight different cities in Turkey. The parent?s irrational beliefs about being parent, was evaluationed through ?Parents Thought Scale?. The family function is evaluationed via ?Family Evaluation Scale?. And, the other dependent variable, children?s behavioral problems, was evaluationed through ?Behavior Evaluation Scale for Children and Youngs Aged 4-14?. Present study is a descriptive one. While analyzing the data, t-test, one-way anova, stepwise regression analysis and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient were applied. In the study, positive, meaningful and mid-level relationship was found between the sub-dimension of Parents Thought Scale, expectations, and the sub-dimensions of Family Evaluation Scale, giving emotional response (.34), showing the needed care (.31), and controlling behavior (.31). The relationship which is not meaningful was found between the Behavior Evaluation Scale for Children and Youngs Aged 4-14 and the sub-dimensions of Parent?s Thought Scale, expectations (.21), perfectionism (.12). Moreover, the sub-dimension of Parent?s Thought Scale, expectations, was found as an intermediary variable in the relationship between the sub-dimension of Family Evaluation Scale, communication, and Scale for Children and Youngs Aged 4-14. At the end of the study, significant difference was found between the perception of children?s behavioral problems and parent?s working conditions, income, job distribution, level of education, the level of their children, getting psychiatric help, and if any member of the family get psychiatric help. No difference was found between among parent?s perceptions about their children?s behavioral problems according to being parent and the birth order of their children.