Levels Of Parenting Stress Research Articles

The Effect of Parental Beliefs on Post-Traumatic Symptoms of the Parent and Child after the Child's Surgery.

In recent years, many studies have attempted to find the main predictors of the development of post-traumatic symptoms in children following medical procedures. Recent studies found a link between parental beliefs and children’s post-traumatic symptoms in various medical contexts such as life-threatening illness, pain, and hospitalization. This study aims to examine the relationship between parental beleifs and post-traumatic symptoms in children and parents after surgical interventions of the children. The study was conducted among 149 children who underwent surgery and their parents. The children and parents were examined at 2 time points- during hospitalization, and 4 months after the hospitalization. Questionnaires were administered measuring parental beleifs pertaining to parental distress, and post-traumatic symptoms among children. results show a correlation between the factors. In addition, it was found that the parents’ distress is a mediating relationship between the parents’ perceptions and the child’s level of distress. It has been found that there is a link between some of the parental beleifs and parental stress symptoms and post-traumatic symptoms in the children. Parental beliefs that were found to influence these variables were related to parental beliefs regarding children’s suffering and pain during surgery. In addition, children of parents with higher levels of religious and spiritual beliefs were found to have fewer post-traumatic symptoms. This study sheds light on parental beliefs that may have the power to influence parental stress levels and children’s post-traumatic symptoms after surgery.

Treatment Engagement Among Children Exposed to Violence: A Systems Perspective.

Childhood exposure to violence is a major public health issue. Effective treatment can reduce the impact of violence exposure on child outcomes. However, disparities in treatment engagement can interfere with effective treatment. This study reviews data collected from 2,546 children referred to community-based mental health services from 2001 to 2015 after exposure to violence. Children were categorized into three groups: those who attended intake but never started treatment, referred to as the Nonengager group; those who started but discontinued treatment prior to meeting treatment goals, referred to as the Attriter group; and those who completed treatment as rated by the treating therapist, referred to as the Completer group. The three groups were analyzed for differences in behavioral and emotional problems, racial identity, child social support, household income, number of people living in the home, parent stress, parent social support, community violence exposure, and neighborhood-level child opportunity. Analyses demonstrated that the Completer group were more likely to: live in neighborhoods with higher levels of childhood opportunity, identify as White, have an annual household income of $40,000 or greater, have significantly fewer people living in the home, report lower levels of parental stress, report higher levels of parental social support, report higher levels of child social support, and have significantly lower scores of emotional and behavioral problems after treatment. Overall, our study supports the importance of considering multiple ecological levels when targeting treatment engagement for children after exposure to violence. Results indicate that children from more advantaged environments are more likely to complete treatment, which leads to better outcomes. This can exacerbate existing disparities. Findings highlight the need for systems change and advocacy for children in less advantaged environments and meeting families in their specific context, to combat treatment disparities.

Symptom Burden of Children with Cancer and Parental Quality of Life: The Mediating Role of Parental Stress.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between children’s reported symptom burden and their parents’ quality of life, and whether parents’ perceived stress mediates this relationship. Method: this was a cross-sectional quantitative research study. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 80 pairs of parents and their children with cancer. Advanced statistical methods were used to analyse the mediating effects of parental stress between children’s symptom burden and parents’ quality of life. Results: The results showed that parental stress was the mediator in the relationship between children’s reported symptom burden and their parents’ quality of life. Conclusions: Symptom burden was prevalent in Chinese children with cancer living in the community. Children’s symptom burden is an important factor in predicting parental stress level, which simultaneously and directly lower parents’ quality of life. The evidence in this study enlarges the knowledge base about the mediating effect of parental stress on the association between the symptom burden of children with cancer and their parents’ quality of life. This evidence is crucial in paving the way for the development of interventions that improve the parental quality of life through stress-reduction programs.

An explanatory model of parental sensitivity in the mother-father-infant triad.

Quality of early family interactions has been associated with child development, bonding, and mental health. Childhood adversity, stress, and depression impact parenting, affecting the quality of the interaction within the mother-father-child triad. The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of parents' adverse childhood experiences, depressive symptoms, and parental stress, on their sensitive response toward their tooddler and quality of traidic interactions. A correlational cross-sectional method was used. The sample included 80 mother-father-child triads, of toddlers with social-emotional difficulties. Parents early adverse experiences, parental stress, and depressive symptoms were assessed through self-report measures. Observational measures on parental sensitivity and triadic interaction were used. For mothers and fathers, adverse childhood experiences were associated with depressive symptoms in adulthood. Sensitivity toward their child and stress were positively associated among both parents. Symptoms of depression in mothers were associated with lower sensitivity toward their child, but in fathers, their sensitive response was influenced by the level of parental stress in the mother. In both parents, greater sensitivity in the dyadic interaction with the child was associated with a higher quality of the triadic interactions, in the triad as a whole, and in the regulation and involvement of the child.

Factors affecting stress levels in parents of surgical neonates: A prospective observational study

BackgroundThere is a paucity of research focusing on the stress levels in parents of newborns undergoing surgery. Resource challenged systems have to deal with overcrowding, a shortage of workforce along with demographic and socioeconomic issues like delayed presentations and out of pocket expenses. The primary objective of this study was to understand the factors associated with stress in the parents of these congenitally malformed neonates. MethodologyThis was a prospective cohort study, which was conducted in a neonatal surgical ICU of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Factors affecting stress levels in parents of surgical neonates were studied in 100 participants. A multi-dimensional questionnaire - The PSS: NICU score was utilized in the study. The parents were interviewed on Day 3–5 after surgery. Result59% of the respondents were fathers. The majority of the parents were in the age bracket of 24 to 35 years. The mean scores for the subscales sights and sounds, looks and behavior and alteration in the parental role were 3.24±0.8, 3.52±0.63, 3.55±0.8 and 2.8 ± 0.9 respectively. The highest level of stress was found in the domains of alteration of parental role and infant appearance and behavior. Comparisons showed significantly higher maternal scores in all the domains. Overall stress scores were highest for abdominal wall defects. ConclusionParents of neonates undergoing surgery suffer from significant stress levels and appropriate counseling targeted towards specific stressors is required to allay this important parental issue.

The Relationship Among Problem-Solving, Coping Styles and Stress Levels of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Typical Development

<p style="text-align: justify;">This research investigated the correlations among problem-solving, coping styles, and stress levels of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and typical development. We used a correlational survey model design and collected the data with the Problem-Solving Inventory (PSI), the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ), and the Parent Stress Scale (PSS). The study group consisted of 350 parents. The research findings revealed that stress levels were negatively correlated with functional coping strategies and problem-solving. We found no significant difference between parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and typical development in terms of problem-solving approaches. Considering the relationships between the parents in terms of WCQ scores, there was no statistically significant difference in the subscales of self-confidence approach, submissiveness, optimistic approach, and seeking social support. Only the subscale of helplessness differed statistically based on the disability. Regarding the correlations between the groups in terms of stress levels, we found that the typical developmental group had lower PSS scores than the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder groups. We believe that preventive support programs for stress management can make significant contributions to efficient coping methods and problem-solving.</p>

Associations between caregiver stress and child verbal abuse and corporal punishment in Thailand’s impoverished Deep South region during the COVID-19 pandemic

The objectives of this study are: (1) To describe the levels of parental stress, self-reported child verbal abuse and corporal punishment among caregivers, and; (2) To assess the extent that having moderate or higher levels of parental stress is associated with self-reported child verbal abuse and corporal punishment. We randomly sampled 12 villages and sampled 40 households per village in Thailand’s impoverished Deep South region in June 2020. Study participants included 466 caregivers residing in sampled households. Trained enumerators used the standard ST-5 questionnaire to measure stress level and asked the participants to self-report the study outcomes. We analyzed data using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Approximately 19.1% of caregivers reported moderate, high, or severe level of stress. Caregivers with moderate and higher levels of stress were more likely than caregivers with low level of stress to report child verbal abuse (48% vs. 23%, respectively; Adj. OR = 3.11, 95% CI = 1.90, 5.11) and corporal punishment (28% vs. 8%, respectively; Adj. OR = 2.62, 95% CI = 1.36, 5.04). We found associations between caregiver’s stress level and self-reported verbal abuse and corporal punishment of children in the household. However, social desirability, lack of details in the answers, and potential confounding by mental illness co-morbidities were notable limitations of the study.

The impact of COVID-related economic shocks on household mental health in Pakistan.

We combine data collected just prior to the unfolding of COVID‐19 with follow‐up data from July 2020 to document the adverse economic effects of the pandemic and resulting impact on parental and child mental well‐being in peri‐urban Pakistan. 22% of the households in our sample are affected by job loss, with monthly income down 38% on average. Our difference‐in‐difference results show that job loss is associated with a 0.88 standard deviation (SD) increase in adult mental distress scores (K10), a 0.43 SD reduction in a Hope index of children's aspirations, agency and future pathways, and a 0.40 SD increase in children's depression symptoms. In addition, we observe higher levels of parental stress and anger reported by children, as well as an increase in reported prevalence of domestic violence. Overall, we document that the pandemic has disproportionately and negatively affected the economic and mental well‐being of the most vulnerable households in our sample.

Online Learning Methods With Stress Of Parents With Children Ages 7-9 Years In The COVID-19 Pandemic Season

Background: The 2019 ongoing coronavirus disease around the world. One of the impacts is in the field of education. As a result, the learning process is carried out at home through online/distance learning. This study aimed to determine the relationship between online learning methods and the stress level of parents of children aged 7-9 years in the COVID-19 pandemic season at MI Da'watul Khoiriyah, Nambakan Hamlet, Ringinrejo District. Methods: This research design is cross-sectional. The sample size is 37 respondents using purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using a nonparametric test in Spearman's nonparametric Statistic Test. Based on the study's results, it was found that most of the respondents (70.8%), as many as 26 online learning had good categories Results: Meanwhile, almost half of the respondents (48.6%), as many as 18 stress levels of parents of children have a mild stress category. The results of the Spearman's Rho Nonparametric statistical test obtained a p-value: 0.005 (a < 0.05) with r = 0.457 (sufficient intensity) with a positive direction, meaning that there is a relationship between online learning and the stress level of parents of children during the Covid-19 pandemic season in MI Da' Watul Khoiriyah Dusun Nambakan Ringinrejo. Conclusion: It is recommended that parents be able to reduce stress on themselves, make the right decisions, and build exemplary communication with their children to improve children's learning at home

Psychological Wellbeing, Dyadic Adjustment, and Parental Stress among Spanish Families during the COVID-19 Outbreak.

Due to COVID-19, many countries, like Spain, imposed lockdown on the entire population to prevent the virus from spreading. The purpose of this exploratory study is to investigate the severity of psychological symptoms, dyadic adjustment, and parental stress of parents during the first three weeks of the outbreak. It also aims to identify several risk factors that contribute to this distress. A total of 727 parents completed a form on an online platform with sociodemographic data, BSI- 18, EAD-13, and the Spanish version of the PPS. Linear regression analyses were used to explore the significant associations between the sample characteristics (sociodemographic variables and their lockdown circumstances) and parents’ psychological symptoms, dyadic adjustment, and parenting stress level during the COVID-19 epidemic. Most parents maintained good emotional, personal, conjugal, and family stability; however, female gender, not living with the partner, having a child with a mental disorder and were unable to balance the work and family lives were significantly associated with greater psychological distress. Being receiving psychiatric or psychological treatment has also been associated with poorer psychological and partner adjustment during the outbreak. It is essential to continue researching the impact of lockdowns on families so that, both the government and public health authorities, can offer resources to the most vulnerable families.

Parent–child conflict during homeschooling in times of the COVID-19 pandemic: A key role for mothers’ self-efficacy in teaching

To contain the COVID-19 pandemic schools have been closed in many countries. Children stayed at home and were assisted by their parents with their schoolwork. Evidently, homeschooling puts extra demands on parents. We presumed that parents’ sense of efficacy in teaching would play a key role in how they cope with this extra task of homeschooling. In particular, we hypothesized that parental characteristics (level of parental education and stress) and social contextual factors (household chaos and school support) would contribute to parents’ teaching self-efficacy and that, in turn, a lower efficacy would result in more parent–child conflict during home schooling. Participants were 173 mothers of children in kindergarten or early elementary schools, who provided information for one of their children about interpersonal conflicts around schoolwork before and during school closure. Additionally, they reported on their self-efficacy in teaching, perceived stress during lockdown, home chaos, and school support. Path analyses indicated that mothers’ perceived stress and household chaos were associated with a lower sense of efficacy in teaching, whereas school support, but not level of parental education, was related to a higher level of teaching self-efficacy. Higher levels of self-efficacy beliefs, in turn, were associated with a lower degree of mother–child conflict during schoolwork, even after controlling for prior levels of conflict. We discuss how the results of this study might be used to foster parents’ self-efficacy in teaching and thereby decrease the amount of parent–child conflict during parents’ support with schoolwork.

Is the Predisposition to Have More Children Beneficial among Parents with Only One Child? Evidence from Spanish Parents.

The fertility deficit in many European countries is related to a low rate of second births. Understanding the factors associated with the predisposition of one-child parents to have more children could contribute to the search for solutions to this social problem. Although previous evidence highlights the role of employment and social factors, psychological factors have been poorly investigated. This study examines the relationship between different psychosocial factors (rumination, personality, life satisfaction, perfectionism, social support, parental stress, guilt linked to work–family conflict, age and child temperament) and parents’ predisposition to have more children. The sample consisted of 96 one-child Spanish parents whose child was in early childhood education (59.3% women; Mage = 37.41). The results show that one-child parents with the predisposition to have more children, compared to those without a predisposition to have more children, showed higher levels of life satisfaction, extroversion and adaptive perfectionism but lower levels of rumination and parental stress. The social implications of these findings and how they may affect parenting today are discussed.

A Technology-Based Intervention to Help Health Care Provider Parents Manage Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From a Pilot Microrandomized Trial

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the stress levels of parents, especially health care workers and other COVID-19 frontline workers. Nonetheless, little is known about stress management for this population. Objective This pilot study tested the impact of a mobile app apt.mind in reducing stress in health care provider parents by delivering a 30-day microrandomized intervention. Methods Participants included 102 parents who work in health care and their coparenting partners. They were given smartwatches and access to a mindfulness app. Each day, all parents were randomly assigned to (1) brief stress reduction messages, (2) meditation audio activities via the app, or (3) no intervention. Stress was evaluated using a self-reported COVID-19 Family Stressor Screener (10 items; 5-point Likert scale) to rate levels of stress regarding food security, job stability, family conflict, mental health, and social isolation. Dosage was measured by the percentage of parents who received any of the activities (app or messages; mean 66%, SD 9.8%), and parents were divided into 3 groups by dosage level: low (below 60%), middle (61%-70%), and high (above 71%). Results Using a pre-post test, this study assessed changes in mental health symptoms and parenting by individuals’ dosage levels. Participants who received high levels of intervention reported significant decreases in COVID-19–related family stress (t=–2.50; P=.02) and a significant increase in parenting efficacy (t=2.39; P=.03), while those who received low or middle levels of the intervention did not show those changes. Conclusions This study supports the feasibility and efficacy of technology-based tools to reduce stress and the need to examine just-in-time interventions. Future studies can improve by focusing on microchanges in the parents’ stress level on a daily basis and including physiological data such as heart rate variability to include objective stress data. Conflicts of Interest None declared.

Psychological adjustment in disclosing and non-disclosing heterosexual-couple families following conception with oocytes or spermatozoa from identity-release donors

Research questionIs there a relationship between disclosure and psychological adjustment in heterosexual-couple families following oocyte donation and sperm donation when the child is 7 years old? DesignThis was a cross-sectional study of heterosexual couples with 7- to 8-year-old children conceived with identity-release oocyte donation (n = 83, response rate 56%) or sperm donation (n = 113, response rate 65%). Participants individually completed instruments for the assessment of parents’ emotional distress (HADS), parenting stress (SPSQ) and relationship quality (ENRICH), and their child's psychological adjustment (SDQ-Swe) and reported whether they had talked with their child about their donor conception. ResultsAbout half of parents had talked with their child about their donor conception (oocyte donation 61%, sperm donation 58%). Separate analyses for mothers and fathers showed no main effects of disclosure or type of donation on the outcomes, nor were there any interaction effects. Overall, mothers and fathers in oocyte donation and sperm donation families were found to be well adjusted, reporting within-normal range levels of anxiety, depression and parental stress, and a high relationship quality. The children were well adjusted, with low levels of emotional and behavioural problems. ConclusionsOverall, the present results confirm previous research indicating that early disclosure of the donor conception to children is not associated with negative outcomes for parents or children. Heterosexual couples using oocyte or sperm donation should be informed that disclosure when the child is 7–8 years old is not detrimental to the psychological adjustment of families.

Parenting Behaviors and Parental Stress Among Foster Parents

While associations between child behavior, parenting behaviors, and foster parent stress have been established, a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between parenting behaviors and parental stress in foster parents is needed. This study included a convenience sample of 65 licensed foster caregivers from across the United States to address the following research question: is there an association between foster parenting behaviors and parental stress? Separate models were run for (a) adaptive parenting behaviors (involvement, positive parenting) as it relates to parenting stress and (b) maladaptive parenting behaviors (poor monitoring/supervision, inconsistent discipline, and corporal punishment) and parental stress. Results indicated that higher levels of parental involvement with children were associated with lower levels of parental stress. For maladaptive parenting behaviors, it was identified that more inconsistent discipline and higher endorsement of corporal punishment as a discipline strategy were associated with higher levels of stress, however, poor monitoring was not found to be associated with levels of stress in this model. Results support the importance of training foster parents in positive parenting strategies or intervening with foster parents who may endorse more negative forms of behavior modification.

Parental concerns during COVID-19-related school closures: children’s behaviors and media usage

IntroductionCoronavirus Disease 2019 has prompted widespread school closures and physical distancing measures. Concerns regarding COVID-19 school closures often increase stress levels in parents.ObjectivesThis study examined whether higher levels of parental concerns were associated with children’s problematic behaviors and other factors during COVID-19-related primary school closures.MethodsParticipants were 217 parents who responded to a web-based questionnaire covering parental concerns, subjective stress, and depression; children’s sleep patterns, behavioral problems, and changes in activity level after COVID-19; previously received mental health services; and media usage during the online-only class period from community center in Suwon city.ResultsThe number of parental concerns was associated with children’s behavioral problem index (BPI) score (Pearson correlation 0.211, p < 0.01), sleep problems (0.183, p < 0.01), increased smartphone usage (0.166, p < 0.05), increased TV usage (0.187, p < 0.01), parents’ subjective stress levels (0.168, p < 0.05), and parental depression (0.200, p < 0.01). In families with children who previously received mental health services, the children reportedly suffered from more sleep and behavioral problems but not increased media usage, and parents noted more stress and depression. Parental concerns are related to family factors such as change of caregiver, no available caregiver, decreased household income, and recent adverse life events. Economically vulnerable people also reported higher rates of reported caregiver burden during COVID-19-related primary school closures, thus will require the potential heightened mental health needs.ConclusionsOngoing monitoring of mental health at risky group and multiple support systems should be considered for parents having difficulty in caring their children.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Use of mindfulness-based interventions for parental stress in relation with ASD: A review

IntroductionChildren with ASD may present their parents with several challenges, most notably aggressive and destructive behaviors. Parents of children with ASD typically experience more stress, depressive and anxiety symptoms than other parents. Mindfulness-based interventions are reported to be effective in reducing parental stress along with improving the challenging behaviors of their childrenObjectivesThe current review aimed to investigate if the use of mindfulness-based interventions is beneficial to reduce parental stress when caring for children with ASD.MethodsThe databases of PsycINFO and PubMED were used. The variables studied in this systematic review were Autism, Parental stress, and Mindfulness. Inclusion criteria were that all articles should be academic journals, and with a full text available in English during the last 20 years.ResultsCompared to other behavioral approaches, mindfulness-based interventions showed statistically significant results in reducing the stress levels of parents as well as improving their children’s challenging behaviors.ConclusionsMost of the studies in the current review indicated that mindfulness-based interventions are beneficial in improving the stress level of parents.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Tunisian mothers facing the covid-19 pandemic: what are the risks for their mental health?

IntroductionCovid-19 pandemic put parents under great pressure, and the most vulnerable parents may have become too overwhelmed to find appropriate ways to be supportive caregivers and to address children’s fears and insecurities.ObjectivesAssess the level of parental stress experienced by mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic and compare it with that experienced by fathers.MethodsThis was a descriptive and comparative analytical study, shared on social networks during the period from 8 to 20 April 2021, targeting mothers of children aged 2 to 18 years. The mother answered the questionnaire for herself and her child. The level of stress experienced by the mother in the parent-child relationship during the COVID-19 pandemic was assessed by the brief version of the Parental Stress Index (PSI-SF).ResultsThe total number of participants was 65 mothers. Parental stress level in mothers was high in 58.5%, the average PSI score was 94.25; the mean score of the parental distress subscale was 34.06; the mean score of the dysfunctional child-parent interaction subscale was 27.86; and the average score of the child difficulty subscale was 32.32. The mean scores of the parental distress subscale, the child difficulty subscale, as well as the mean PSI total score were significantly higher in mothers than in fathers, with p= 0.010; p= 0.022 and p=0.017 respectively.ConclusionsOur results highlight a higher level of stress in mothers than in fathers. This can be explained the parental, marital and professional responsibilities imposed on women, underlining the urgent need to provide mothers with adequate support.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Perceptions of partner responsiveness across the transition to parenthood.

This longitudinal study examined associations between perceptions of partner responsiveness and relationship satisfaction of each partner (new parents) across the first 2 years of a chronically stressful life event-the transition to parenthood. Responsiveness indexes the degree to which partners respond to each other with understanding, validation, and care. Consistent with prior work, lower ratings of responsiveness receipt and provision predicted declines in relationship satisfaction across the transition. These effects, however, were moderated by parental stress, such that among new parents who reported experiencing higher levels of parental stress, providing higher levels of responsiveness to partners was associated with declines in relationship satisfaction. Conversely, under lower stress, relationship satisfaction benefited from higher levels of both providing and receiving responsiveness. All of these effects held when controlling for both partners' levels of agreeableness, neuroticism, support-seeking, income, and work-family conflict. Post hoc moderation analyses revealed that high stress partners who reported providing higher responsiveness reported larger declines in relationship satisfaction if they scored higher in attachment avoidance or had more negative social exchanges with their partner. We discuss these novel stress moderation results in light of the need to and meaning of engaging in responsiveness, especially during chronically stressful periods of life. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Steroid use for established bronchopulmonary dysplasia: study protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

IntroductionPostnatal steroids during the first few weeks of life have been demonstrated to be effective in decreasing the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a serious chronic respiratory condition affecting preterm...