<p>This study explored the indirect effects of negative parental practices, specifically parental submission and power struggles, in the associations between parental self-efficacy (PSE) and children’s internalizing and externalizing problems. Data were collected through an online survey conducted three months after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas War, from 226 Israeli mothers of children aged 6–18. A parallel indirect effects model was employed to analyze the data. Findings revealed that PSE was significantly associated with children’s internalizing problems, but not with externalizing problems. Furthermore, both parental submission and power struggles showed significant indirect effects linking PSE to externalizing problems, whereas only parental submission showed an indirect effect linking PSE to internalizing problems. The practical implications of the results are discussed, emphasizing the importance of PSE as a cognitive framework shaping parenting practices. Wartime Interventions should focus on enhancing PSE and reducing negative practices, particularly parental submission and power struggles, in order to reduce child internalizing and externalizing problems.</p>