Why Do Parenting Styles Matter? The Relation Between Parenting Styles, Cyberbullying, and Problematic Internet Use Among Children With and Without SLD/ADHD.

This study investigates the relationship between parenting styles—permissive, authoritarian, and authoritative—and their association with cyberbullying and problematic internet use (PIU) among Israeli children aged 9 to 12, comparing those with specific learning disorder (SLD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to typically developing (TD) peers. Findings indicate that children with SLD/ADHD experience higher levels of authoritarian parenting, while authoritative parenting correlates with better parent–child relationships and lower incidences of cyberbullying and PIU across both groups, with these associations being stronger in the SLD/ADHD group. No significant differences were found between groups in the frequency of cyberbullying or PIU, possibly due to the young age of participants and their educational settings. The study underscores the importance of authoritative parenting in fostering positive relationships and mitigating online risks, especially for children with SLD/ADHD.