Self-determination theory posits that children of parents who frequently use psychological control might be more likely to engage in relationally manipulative behaviors with peers, namely relational aggression. Despite Bell’s theoretical framework suggesting a bidirectional influence between parent and child over time, research on this dynamic remains limited. Furthermore, maternal authoritative parenting—characterized by providing autonomy, warmth, and reasoning in parenting behaviors—may protect against child aggression, given that authoritative parents explain their behaviors and deliver clear socialization messages. This study aimed to examine the bidirectional relation between maternal psychological control and child aggression and to test the protective effect of authoritative parenting on child aggression over time in Chinese immigrant families where child obedience is emphasized. Chinese American mothers (N = 253, M = 37.9 years, SD = 4.7 years) of preschoolers (M = 4.5 years, SD = 0.9 years, 50% girls) self-rated their parenting behaviors, and teachers rated children’s relational aggression in classrooms at two time points separated by 6 months. Covariates included maternal acculturation levels, child gender, and child age. Results from a cross-lagged structural equation model showed that only the positive association between T1 psychological control and T2 child aggression was significant. Furthermore, we found that this association was only significant when maternal authoritative parenting was low and moderate but not when it was high. These findings demonstrate parent-driven effects in the development of child relational aggression and the protective role of authoritative parenting in Chinese American immigrant families. Findings were discussed considering cultural specificity and commonality in parenting and implications for informing culturally responsive family interventions.
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