Parenting beliefs and psychological distress → stimulation and punishment → young children’s behavior: A descriptive study in Colombia

Parental engagement in stimulating activities and the use of different discipline behaviors play a significant role in young children’s behavioral development. Psychological frameworks often posit that parental beliefs and psychological well-being are key drivers of these parental behaviors. However, the influence of parental beliefs and psychological well-being on these parenting behaviors, and consequently on children’s behavioral outcomes, remains understudied, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We collected primary data from 267 parents of young children (Mage in months = 13.66; 52.06% girls) living in low-income households in Bogotá and Soacha, Colombia, and assessed how parental beliefs and psychological distress predict children’s behaviors through parental engagement in stimulation activities and use of violent punishment. Structural equation modeling indicated that positive parental beliefs about violence were linked to reduced engagement in stimulating activities, predicting lower child effortful control and positive affectivity, while parental psychological distress was associated with greater use of violent punishment, predicting lower effortful control and higher negative affectivity in children. These results underscore the importance of addressing parental beliefs and psychological well-being to support positive parenting behaviors and promote healthy behavioral development in young children, particularly in LMIC contexts.