This study examined the relationship between four parenting styles and preschool children’s self-regulation based on perspectives from parents in Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, China. A quantitative correlational design was used, and questionnaire data were collected from 709 parents. Parenting Style was examined through four separate constructs include (i) Authoritarian, (ii) Authoritative, (iii) Permissive, and (iv) Uninvolved parenting. Self-Regulation was measured through (i) Behavioural, (ii) Attentional, and (iii) Emotional Regulation. This study employed a quantitative correlational research design. Descriptive statistics and structural path analysis were used to test the proposed relationships. The findings showed that Authoritative parenting had a significant positive relationship with preschool children’s Self-Regulation (? = .162, p < .001). Permissive parenting showed a small positive relationship, but it was not statistically significant (? = .048, p = .058). Authoritarian and Uninvolved parenting also did not show significant direct relationships with Self-Regulation. Therefore, only the proposed relationship between Authoritative parenting and Self-Regulation was supported. The findings provide partial support for Social Learning Theory and Self-Regulation Theory. Authoritative parenting may help children develop self-regulation by combining warmth, communication, clear expectations, and consistent guidance. This suggests that preschool children may benefit more when emotional support and appropriate structure are provided together. At the same time, the non-significant findings for the other parenting styles suggest that the effects of parenting may differ across areas of self-regulation and cultural settings. The study therefore supports examining the four parenting styles as separate constructs rather than combining them into a single overall measure. Parents and educators are encouraged to use positive discipline, emotional coaching, consistent routines, and age-appropriate expectations. Future research should include longitudinal designs, multiple informants, direct observations, and samples from other regions of China to better understand the direction and conditions of these relationships.
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