The goal was to examine the contribution of parenting style to externalizing/internalizing problems in children and early-adoles-
cents, on the hypothesis that parenting style would affect externalizing and internalizing problems via its effects on behavioral
dysregulation. The participants were parents and teachers of 199 children (111 F) from 6 to 15 years old. A multi-informant study
was carried out to assess parenting style (parents reports), and (a) behavioral dysregulation, (b) aggressive behavior with peers, (c)
hyperactivity/distractibility, (d) anxiety/fear, in an ecological interactive context such as the classroom (teacher report). We tested
our hypotheses with Structural Equation Model analysis. Authoritarian style is associated with aggressive behavior with peers,
hyperactivity/distractibility, and anxiety/fear, via its effects on behavioral dysregulation. These findings confirm that the authori-
tarian style plays an important role in externalizing and internalizing problems by increasing behavioral dysregulation, and it has
broad implications for interventions aimed at reducing maladjustment in children and adolescents.

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• Parenting styles and children’s internalizing-externalizing behavior: The mediating role of behavioral regulation