This study explores the relationship between harsh parenting and child aggression, focusing on the mediating role of child emotion regulation. It was conducted with 325 Chinese preschool children and their parents, revealing that harsh parenting from mothers had a stronger effect on child emotion regulation than from fathers, while harsh parenting from fathers had a stronger effect on child aggression. Fathers' harsh parenting also affected sons more than daughters, whereas mothers' harsh parenting did not show gender differences. The study suggests that negative emotions play a key role in family dynamics, influencing both parenting and child adjustment. The research highlights that harsh parenting, characterized by coercive behaviors and negative emotions, can directly and indirectly affect child aggression through the child's ability to regulate emotions. Emotional regulation strategies, such as self-soothing and inhibiting emotionally driven behavior, are shaped by parental interactions and can influence social behaviors, including aggression. The study also notes that Chinese preschool children and their parents were studied, highlighting the need for more research on cultural contexts in psychological processes. The study found that both mothers and fathers had significant effects on child aggression, with mothers' harsh parenting having a weaker direct effect on aggression but a stronger indirect effect through emotion regulation. Fathers' harsh parenting had a stronger direct effect on aggression. The study also examined gender differences, finding that fathers' harsh parenting had a stronger effect on sons' aggression than daughters', while mothers' harsh parenting affected both genders similarly. The study's findings suggest that harsh parenting can have lasting effects on children's emotional regulation and social behavior, emphasizing the importance of addressing negative emotions in parenting practices. The research also underscores the need for further studies to explore the cultural and contextual factors influencing parenting and child development, particularly in diverse populations. Overall, the study contributes to understanding the complex interplay between parenting styles, child emotion regulation, and aggression, with implications for family policy and intervention strategies.This study explores the relationship between harsh parenting and child aggression, focusing on the mediating role of child emotion regulation. It was conducted with 325 Chinese preschool children and their parents, revealing that harsh parenting from mothers had a stronger effect on child emotion regulation than from fathers, while harsh parenting from fathers had a stronger effect on child aggression. Fathers' harsh parenting also affected sons more than daughters, whereas mothers' harsh parenting did not show gender differences. The study suggests that negative emotions play a key role in family dynamics, influencing both parenting and child adjustment. The research highlights that harsh parenting, characterized by coercive behaviors and negative emotions, can directly and indirectly affect child aggression through the child's ability to regulate emotions. Emotional regulation strategies, such as self-soothing and inhibiting emotionally driven behavior, are shaped by parental interactions and can influence social behaviors, including aggression. The study also notes that Chinese preschool children and their parents were studied, highlighting the need for more research on cultural contexts in psychological processes. The study found that both mothers and fathers had significant effects on child aggression, with mothers' harsh parenting having a weaker direct effect on aggression but a stronger indirect effect through emotion regulation. Fathers' harsh parenting had a stronger direct effect on aggression. The study also examined gender differences, finding that fathers' harsh parenting had a stronger effect on sons' aggression than daughters', while mothers' harsh parenting affected both genders similarly. The study's findings suggest that harsh parenting can have lasting effects on children's emotional regulation and social behavior, emphasizing the importance of addressing negative emotions in parenting practices. The research also underscores the need for further studies to explore the cultural and contextual factors influencing parenting and child development, particularly in diverse populations. Overall, the study contributes to understanding the complex interplay between parenting styles, child emotion regulation, and aggression, with implications for family policy and intervention strategies.