This article highlights the importance of parent-child relationships associated to child problem behaviors through three theoretical models: coercion, psychoanalytical and ecological-systemic. The coercion model emphasizes the importance of parent-child interactions, the environmental variables and its interrelations. The psychoanalytical model emphasizes the significance of the ego and superego development, of the deprivation and of the convergence of aggressive and sexual drives to the normal development. Finally, the ecological-systemic model emphasizes individual characteristics, parent’s family history and marital and support network relationships. The models were discussed in order to sort out a consensus about parent-child relationships and improve the comprehension of this phenomenon, highlighting the importance of psychological and environmental aspects, while reaffirming its interdependency. Keywords: behavior problems; childhood; predictors.