Parental stress is an emotional process that parents develop when they perceive that the demands associated with the development of their parental role exceed the resources they have available to meet them. It is an adaptive emotional process that usually manifests itself throughout the development of parenting and fosters attention and involvement in the parental role. However, when its levels are very high or its presence begins to be a constant in the life of the parental figures, this process generates a negative personal impact that can extend to the family nucleus itself. From this point of view, it is necessary to know what are the consequences related to parental stress and the factors that could condition it and to which, therefore, attention should be paid with regard to the design of prevention initiatives. This symposium aims to examine the role of child temperament and gender role attitudes and behaviours, such as maternal gatekeeping, in relation to parental stress, as well as their impact on parents' life satisfaction and their predisposition to have more children. The results show that child irritability and the development of inhibiting attitudes towards partner involvement in mothers foster the development of parental stress. In turn, this process negatively impacts the life satisfaction of parental figures and minimises their predisposition to have more children. The personal and social implications of these findings are discussed.