The SERNA Conceptual Standard for Parenting Styles and Child Development: Definitions, Relationships, and Theoretical Integration (SCS-PSC)

**Background:** Parenting styles, the constellation of attitudes and behaviors that characterize the parent-child relationship, are critical determinants of child development. However, the field is characterized by "terminological chaos," with terms like "authoritative," "authoritarian," "helicopter parenting," and "uninvolved" often used inconsistently across different cultural and socioeconomic contexts. **Problem:** This conceptual fragmentation prevents the development of standardized parenting interventions and limits the ability to compare longitudinal developmental outcomes. Specifically, the "Demandingness" vs. "Responsiveness" interaction remains modeled inconsistently. **Objective:** To establish the SERNA Conceptual Standard (SCS-PSC), providing canonical definitions and a testable socio-developmental model for parenting styles. **Approach:** A systematic review of over 450 peer-reviewed articles was conducted, synthesizing evidence from developmental psychology, sociology, and family studies. **Contributions:** This standard defines 12 canonical terms, establishes the "Bi-Directional Regulatory Alignment (BRA) Model," and proposes 10 falsifiable hypotheses for future research. **Conclusions:** SCS-PSC provides the theoretical infrastructure to transition parenting research from static trait-based descriptions to predictive modeling of parent-child transactional dynamics.