Child-related Stressors Research Articles

Within-couple comparison of maternal and paternal distress in an Italian birth cohort

ObjectiveThis study compared parental distress in 166 couples, using the Parenting Stress Index–Short Form (PSI-SF), in the Italian NASCITA cohort at the two-year well-child visits. The study explored the concordance of distress levels within couples (aim 1) and their correlation with child-related stressors (aim 2).BackgroundPrevious studies focused on maternal distress or considered maternal and paternal experiences separately, without addressing differences within couples.MethodData on parental distress were collected from the PSI-SF completed separately by parents. The total score was derived from three subscales, with high distress defined by a score above 85. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test compared the total PSI-SF scores of mothers and fathers. The prevalence of high distress was assessed using chi-square tests, and concordance between parents within the same couple was estimated using Cohen’s K statistic. Chi-square tests were also used to compare distress levels in parents exposed to potential child-related stressors versus those not exposed.ResultsA slightly higher total score (z = -2.45; p = 0.01) was observed in mothers versus fathers, although the prevalence of distress was similar (15.1% vs. 13.9%, respectively; p = 0.76). Nine children (5.4%) had both parents distressed. Agreement in the high level of distress was observed for 81.9% of the couples, with a fair agreement on the total score (Cohen’s K = 0.27).The percentage of children with both distressed parents was slightly higher in the group exposed to potential stressors (6.6% vs. 4%, p = 0.49).ConclusionsIt is essential to evaluate distress in parents exposed to potential stressors related to child characteristics early. This assessment should be part of the pediatric family practice to prevent adverse outcomes in both child and parental wellbeing.

Couples’ dyadic coping in the context of child-related stressors: A systematic review across three decades.

Couples’ dyadic coping in the context of child-related stressors: A systematic review across three decades.

Validation of Childhood Rare Epilepsy Social Impact Assessment (CRESIA) to Measure the Social and Family Impact of Rare Childhood Diseases with Epilepsy.

This study addresses the social relevance of low-prevalence childhood diseases and reports the process of generation and validation of a tool to assess the social impact on the direct family environment and the social context of reference. The aim of the process of construction and validation of this instrument is to provide the field with a tool with the capacity to shed light on the social consequences of suffering from a low-prevalence disease, specifically those comorbid with treatment-resistant epileptic seizures of childhood origin. The instrument here presented and called CRESIA (acronym derived from Childhood Rare Epilepsy Social Impact Assessment) provides valuable information on six specific areas framing health, economic, psychological, social, and child-related stressors, as well as family. CRESIA represents a valid and reliable instrument for family members or primary caregivers of children and adolescents with childhood rare epilepsy.

Supplemental Material for Couples’ Dyadic Coping in the Context of Child-Related Stressors: A Systematic Review Across Three Decades

Supplemental Material for Couples’ Dyadic Coping in the Context of Child-Related Stressors: A Systematic Review Across Three Decades

Parental coping as a buffer between child factors and emotion-related parenting in families of children with autism spectrum disorder.

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience high levels of stress related to their children's symptoms and comorbid behavior problems. Adaptive parental coping in response to child-related stressors is proposed to serve a buffering function, and yet, little research has examined whether coping actually moderates associations between child factors and parent outcomes in this population. The few studies to do so have focused on parent well-being as the primary outcome and have not considered the degree to which child-related stressors may affect parenting and contribute to maladaptive transactional parent-child processes over time. The present study tested whether adaptive parental coping was associated with reduced associations between higher levels of child ASD symptoms and comorbid externalizing problems and poorer quality parent reactions to child negative emotions in 63 families of children with ASD. Parents reported on their children's externalizing problems, their own coping behavior, and their reactions to their children's negative emotions, and child ASD symptoms were measured through direct testing. Adaptive coping-primarily active planning-moderated the association between children's behavior problems and supportive parent reactions such that parents of children with more externalizing problems reported less supportive reactions, but only when adaptive coping was low. Child ASD symptoms did not significantly relate to parent reactions, and coping did not moderate these associations. This cross-sectional study is the first to identify parental coping as a potential protective factor for parenting behavior in families of children with ASD and comorbid behavior problems. Implications for future longitudinal research are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Stress in Egyptian parents of children with developmental disabilities. The moderating effect of social support

BackgroundResearch shows that parents of children with developmental disabilities (DDs) are at increased risk for elevated stress. Child adaptive functioning as well as social supports are key factors influencing stress in parents. However, few studies have examined the interaction between these variables and their contribution to perceived stress especially in Egyptian parents. AimsThe present study investigated the relationship between parenting stress, child adaptive functioning, and social supports. It also examined the moderating role of social support in the relationship between child adaptive functioning and stress in Egyptian parents of children with DDs. MethodSixty-four Egyptian parents of children with DDs completed assessment measures of parenting stress, child adaptive functioning, and social supports. ResultsParenting stress was negatively associated with child adaptive functioning and informal social supports. However, there was no association between parenting stress and formal social supports. In addition, level of informal social support had a moderating effect on the relationship between child adaptive functioning and level of parenting stress. ConclusionsThe findings highlight the importance of interventions that reduce child-related stressors, particularly low adaptive functioning. Programs that address parenting stress and promote effective informal and formal social supports are crucial to help parents cope with stress.

The Health and Well-Being of Caregivers of Technologically Dependent Children.

Caregivers of technology-dependent children face considerable responsibilities. This study examined the association of 2 child-related stressors—functional status and use of mechanical ventilator—with 2 domains of family caregiver well-being—depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale [CES-D]) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and family function (PedsQL Family Impact Module). The secondary objective was to determine whether these associations were moderated by caregiver-perceived social support. Structured interviews were conducted with 88 primary family caregivers of technology-dependent children in Singapore. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to assess the primary and secondary objectives. A total of 44.3% of caregivers were at high risk of clinical depression. Moderately poor child functional status was associated with more caregiver depressive symptoms. Perceived social support moderated this association. Family caregivers of technology-dependent children have high levels of depressive symptoms and relatively poor HRQOL and family functioning. Enhancing caregivers’ social support is important for their well-being.

The transition to parenthood for Australian heterosexual couples: expectations, experiences and the partner relationship

BackgroundThe perinatal period precipitates significant intra- and inter- personal changes. How heterosexual couples understand and account for such changes, however, has received relatively little attention.MethodsSemi-structured individual interviews were undertaken as part of a longitudinal study on planned first-time parenthood. This article reports on an inductive thematic analysis of a data corpus focused on six interview questions (three from interviews conducted during pregnancy, and three from interviews conducted six months after the birth of the child), derived from interviews with eight individuals (4 women and 4 men) comprising four couples.ResultsIn antenatal interviews, the theme of intrapersonal changes differentiated participants by two sub-themes that were then linked to postpartum experiences. Those who ‘prepared for the worst’ reported positive experiences after the arrival of a child, whilst participants who during pregnancy viewed life after the arrival of a child as ‘an unknown’ experienced challenges. Similarly in terms of the theme of interpersonal change, antenatal interviews were linked to postpartum experiences by two sub-themes, such that participants who approached the impending arrival of a child as a team effort reported that the arrival of a child cemented their relationship, whilst participants who expected that the couple relationship would buffer child-related stressors experienced challenges.ConclusionsFindings highlight the importance of a focus in antenatal education on the psychological effects of new parenthood, and support for the couple relationship during the perinatal period.

Parental sleep quality and behavior problems of children with autism.

This study explored the impact of parental sleep quality on the experience of behavior problems by children with autism spectrum disorder. A 14-day daily diary was used in a sample of 176 mother-father couples. Dyadic multilevel models were conducted to examine the between-person and within-person effects of previous-night sleep quality on parents' rating of level of behavior problems by the child with autism spectrum disorder and level of positive and negative affect. Results indicated that persistently poor sleep quality was associated with between-person differences in initial rating of level of behavior problems by the child with autism spectrum disorder for mothers. At a within-person level, previous-night sleep quality moderated the association between rating of level of behavior problems by the child with autism spectrum disorder and level of positive and negative affect in fathers. Child-related stressors exerted less influence on fathers' affect following a day with poor sleep quality. Interventions aimed at enhancing sleep quality in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder may have important effects on parental psychological well-being.

Trajectories of maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety over 13 years: the influence of stress, social support, and maternal temperament

BackgroundDepression and anxiety are the most common mental health problems among women, with various negative impacts both for the women concerned and their families. Greater understanding of developmental trajectories of maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety over the child rearing period would have significant benefits for public health, informing prevention and treatment approaches. The aim of the current study was to examine whether stressors related to child rearing and living conditions, social support, and maternal temperament, predicted mothers’ membership in groups with different trajectories of symptoms of depression and anxiety during 13 years of the child rearing phase.MethodsThe data were from a prospective, longitudinal study of 913 mothers in Norway followed from when their children were 18 months old (time 1) until they were 14.5 years (time 6) (the TOPP study). Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to test whether child related stressors, stressors related to the living conditions, social support and maternal temperament at time 1 predicted membership in groups based on maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety over the subsequent 13 years.ResultsTemperamental distress, followed by child related stressors, were the strongest predictors of membership in a group with high symptoms of depression and anxiety over time. Stressors related to living conditions, and social support from partner and friends/family were also significant predictors. No interaction effects among predictors were found.ConclusionsThis study indicates that factors present early in the child rearing phase may provide substantial prediction of the variance in maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety over the following 13 years. Temperamental distress and child related stressors were the strongest predictors of membership in different depression and anxiety symptom trajectory groups.

The Impact of Child-Related Stressors on the Psychological Functioning of Lower-Income Mothers After Hurricane Katrina

In the present study, the authors examined the role of child-related stressors in the psychological adjustment of lower-income, primarily unmarried and African American, mothers (N = 386). All participants lived in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, and about a third were also exposed to Hurricane Rita (30.3%, n = 117). Lacking knowledge of a child's safety during the hurricanes was a significant predictor of heightened postdisaster psychological distress and posttraumatic stress, even after controlling for demographic variables, predisaster psychological distress, evacuation timing, and bereavement. From interviews with a subset of the participants (n = 57), we found that mothers consistently put their own needs behind those of their children. The authors recommend policies that promptly reunite mothers with missing children and support lower-income mothers in caring for their children during natural disasters and the aftermath.

Children's delayed development and behavior problems: Impact on mothers' perceived physical health across early childhood

Mothers of children with developmental delays may experience poorer psychological well-being than other mothers; however, little research has examined how delayed development in children might predict mothers' perceived physical well-being. Children with delayed development manifest heightened behavior problems, which may negatively affect maternal well-being. We examined the associations between developmental delay and behavior problems at child age 3 and mothers' self-perceived physical health at child ages 3, 4, and 5, in families of 218 children with and without developmental delays. The study sample comprised 218 families from central Pennsylvania and Southern California, USA who were recruited through community agencies that provide diagnostic and intervention services for individuals with development difficulties. We found that mothers of children with delayed development at age 3 reported poorer concurrent and later physical health than mothers of children with typical development. Broadening the analyses to include not only child development status (delayed development versus typical development) but also child behavior problems at age 3, only child behavior problems and the interaction of development status and behavior problems, but not development status itself, predicted maternal health. Early child behavior problems contributed to later maternal health above and beyond early maternal health, suggesting a possible causal association between child behavior problems and mothers' physical health. The relation between child behavior problems and maternal health was moderated by mothers' parenting stress and mediated by depressive symptoms. Mothers of children with both delayed development and high behavior problems are a particular risk group that may be especially in need of early intervention. Further research should examine the behavioral and biological pathways by which these child-related stressors influence mothers' physical health.

The impact of successful assisted reproduction treatment on female and male mental health during transition to parenthood: a prospective controlled study

The dynamics of mental health during the transition to parenthood have not been a focus of research. Our prospective longitudinal study was designed to reveal whether there are differences in mental health during the transition to parenthood between parents undergoing treatment with assisted reproduction techniques (ART) and those who conceive spontaneously. 367 couples with a singleton ART pregnancy using their own gametes. 379 couples with a spontaneous singleton pregnancy. Men and women separately filled in questionnaires including the General Health Questionnaire: at the 18th-20th week of pregnancy, 2 months postpartum and 1 year postpartum (T3). The effect of social and child-related factors on mental health was examined. ART women had fewer depressive symptoms during pregnancy than controls, but at T3 their depressive symptoms were at the same level as seen in controls. Anxiety symptoms increased among control but not among ART women across the transition. ART men reported generally fewer mental health symptoms than their controls. Social and child-related stressors had negative impacts on mental health changes among control couples, whereas no impact was found among ART couples. Successful ART did not predict mental health problems during the transition to parenthood. Moreover, ART couples' mental health was remarkably resistant to social and child-related stress during the transition to parenthood.

Optimism, appraisals, and coping in the adjustment of mothers and their children with spina bifida

Families of children with physical disabilities show substantial differences in the levels of adjustment of both the children and their parents. These differences result, in part, from the complex interplay of family and child adaptation resources, such as coping and social support. In order to identify factors which may differentiate levels of adjustment among families with children with physical disabilities, this study examined relationships among optimism, primary and secondary appraisals of and coping with child-related stressors, maternal psychological adjustment, and child adjustment in 29 families with a child with spina bifida without mental retardation and 28 comparison families with a nondisabled child. For the spina bifida group, primary appraisals were related to the use of avoidant coping strategies, and these coping strategies were related to maternal psychological adjustment and child internalizing behavior problems. No significant differences between the groups in terms of the nature of the relationships or in the levels of the variables were found with the exception that mothers of children with spina bifida were less optimistic than comparison mothers. These data support the importance of coping in understanding the psychological adjustment of mothers faced with a chronic stressor in the family.

Physiological responses to non-child-related stressors in mothers at risk for child abuse

Physical child abusers and adults at risk for child abuse, relative to comparison subjects, are reported to be more physiologically reactive to child-related Stressors. It is not known if the reported physiological reactivity is child specific or if physical child abusers and at-risk parents are also more reactive to other types of stressful stimuli. The present study investigated changes in heart rate and skin conductance in response to four types of non-child-related Stressors in at-risk and matched low-risk mothers. The four types of stressful stimuli were: a cold presser; a stressful film depicting industrial accidents; unsolvable anagrams; and an aversive car horn. At-risk mothers, relative to low-risk mothers, had greater and more prolonged sympathetic activation during presentations of the cold pressor and the stressful film, the stimuli rated as the most stressful. The present data, combined with previous findings, support the view that generalized sympathetic activation to both child and non-child-related Stressors may serve as a mediator of physical child abuse.

The influence of parenting stress and child behavior problems on parental estimates of expressive and receptive language development

This study examined the relative contributions of parental reports of child-related and parent-related stress to their estimates of expressive and receptive language skills on the Minnesota Child Development Inventory in 152 children referred to a communicative disorders clinic. Correlational analysis showed moderately high agreement between parental estimates and objective measures of expressive and receptive language ability. Multiple-regression analyses revealed that independent measures of language acquisition accounted for the greatest amount of variance in parental estimates of expressive and receptive language skills. Stressful child behavior accounted for a small but statistically significant proportion of the variance in estimates of expressive and receptive language skills. Parental stress, in contrast, did not contribute significantly to language estimates. These findings suggest that parents are able to formulate estimates of language development which are relatively independent of personal or child-related stressors.