Lower Parenting Stress Research Articles

Parents' reflective functioning and stress: The associations with preschoolers' social understanding.

Social understanding competence develops in sensitive and co-regulating caregiver interactions. Parental reflective functioning (PRF) and parenting stress can affect children's social understanding. This study investigated if children's social understanding was associated with PRF and parenting stress. Parents of 305 Italian children aged from 24 to 72 months (M=48.2, SD=13.9; 47.9% girls) completed an online survey. Parents completed the following questionnaire: The Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire, and the Children's Social Understanding Scale. Results showed that children's social understanding was predicted by lower parenting stress, b=.002, p=.017, and parent's interest and curiosity about the child's mental states, b=.07, p=.013. Findings confirm that high levels of parenting stress and low PRF constitute unfavorable conditions for preschoolers' socio-cognitive development. Thus, the present study can have implication for interventions aimed at improving children's social understanding that should focus on reducing parenting stress and enhancing parental mentalizing.

Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of the Psy-Flex Among Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

This research aimed to translate the original English version of the Psy-Flex, a scale of psychological flexibility, into Chinese and to test its psychometric properties among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Two phases were conducted: (1) translation from English to Chinese (Psy-Flex-C), followed by a semantic equivalence evaluation between two versions, a pre-test, and an evaluation of the Psy-Flex-C in terms of face validity with 20 parents of autistic children, and content validity of the Psy-Flex-C with eight experts. (2) A cross-sectional study with 248 parents of autistic children was conducted for validation, and a subgroup of 50 participants was randomly selected to assess the test-retest reliability at a 2-week interval. The Psy-Flex-C showed satisfactory semantic equivalence with the original version and demonstrated adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.84) and test-retest stability (weighted kappa statistic = 0.88). Concurrent validity was supported by a moderate correlation between the Psy-Flex-C and the Comprehensive Assessment of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Processes (Pearson's r = 0.54, p < 0.01). The Psy-Flex-C showed a significant mean score difference between parents with high and low parenting stress (t = 5.43, p < 0.001). Similar to the original scale, confirmatory factor analysis showed the best fitting one-factor structure of the Psy-Flex-C (X2/df = 1.62, p = 0.13, RMSEA = 0.05, GFI = 0.99, CFI = 0.99, TLI = 0.98, SRMR = 0.023). The Psy-Flex-C can be a reliable and valid instrument to self-report psychological flexibility in parents of children with ASD. Future research is recommended to test the Psy-Flex-C using diverse samples from different cultures and contexts to enhance its generalizability.

Investigating correlates of children's emotional well‐being: Parenting stress and child temperament

AbstractChildren's emotional well‐being may emerge as a result of the dynamic interplay between individual factors, such as temperament and environmental factors, such as parenting stress. The current study aimed to investigate the contributions of child temperament and parenting stress to children's emotional well‐being. This study also examined the moderating role of parenting stress on the association between child temperament and children's emotional well‐being. Participants were mothers of 219 Turkish preschool children (110 girls) aged 36 months to 76 months (M = 56.95 months, SD = 11.73 months). Mothers reported on children's emotional well‐being (emotion regulation, emotion dysregulation, child aggression and child anxiety), temperament (persistence and reactivity) and parenting stress. Persistence was negatively associated with emotion dysregulation and child aggression, while reactivity was negatively associated with emotion regulation and positively associated with emotion dysregulation, aggression and anxiety. Parenting stress was negatively associated with emotion regulation and positively associated with emotion dysregulation, aggression and anxiety. Simple slope analyses revealed that high persistence coupled with low parenting stress was associated with higher emotion regulation, while low persistence paired with high parenting stress was linked to higher child aggression. The findings underline the significance of child temperament and parenting stress for children's emotional well‐being.Highlights Temperamental persistence is negatively associated with emotion dysregulation and aggression. Temperamental reactivity is negatively associated with emotion regulation and positively associated with emotion dysregulation, aggression and anxiety. Parenting stress was negatively associated with emotion regulation and positively associated with emotion dysregulation, aggression and anxiety in children.

Exploring the Relationship between Social Support and Parental Stress in Mothers of Children with Autism

Parents of children with autism, especially mothers, experience more parental stress compared to mothers of typical children. The aim of this research was to discuss the relationship between social support perceived to mothers of children with autism and parental stress levels, and to investigate the relationship between the characteristics of the mothers/their children and parental stress. Fifty mothers of children with autism in Banten Province completed the Social Support Index (SSI) and Parental Stress Scale (PSS) through a Google Form. The data was analyzed using Pearson Correlation and multiple regression analysis. Results show that the mothers had high social support (M = 61.72) and experienced lower stress in parenting their children (M = 39.56). Moreover, SSI has a significant negative correlation with PSS (r = -.519, p = .01), indicating that the higher social support accepted by mothers of children with autism, the lower level of parental stress they experienced. Surprisingly, mothers of children with autism who have siblings have lower parental stress than those of them without siblings.

Cortical volume reductions in men transitioning to first-time fatherhood reflect both parenting engagement and mental health risk.

Perinatal reductions in gray matter volume have been observed in human mothers transitioning to parenthood, with preliminary evidence for similar changes in fathers. These reductions have been theorized to support adaptation to parenting, but greater investigation is needed. We scanned 38 first-time fathers during their partner's pregnancy and again after 6months postpartum, and collected self-report data prenatally and 3, 6, and 12months postpartum. Significant gray matter volume reductions were observed across the entire cortex but not the subcortex. Fathers who reported stronger prenatal bonding with the unborn infant, and planned to take more time off from work after birth, subsequently showed larger cortical volume decreases. Larger reductions in gray matter volume also emerged among fathers who reported stronger postpartum bonding with the infant, lower parenting stress, and more time spent with their infant. Larger volume reductions predicted more postpartum sleep problems and higher levels of postpartum depression, anxiety, and psychological distress, controlling for prenatal sleep and mental health. Volume reductions were smaller among fathers whose infants were older at the postpartum scan, indicating potential rebound. These results suggest that perinatal gray matter volume reductions might reflect not only greater parenting engagement but also increased mental health risk in new fathers.

Mothers' Perceived Co-Parenting and Preschooler's Problem Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Maternal Parenting Stress and the Moderating Role of Family Resilience.

Problem behaviors in preschoolers signals social adjustment challenges. This study investigates the mediating role of parenting stress in the relationship between co-parenting and these behaviors, and examines how family resilience impacts this dynamic. A detailed survey was conducted with 1279 mothers of 3-6-year-olds in Shanghai, China, focusing on co-parenting, family resilience, parenting stress, and children's behaviors. We employed SPSS 26 for initial tests and the Hayes PROCESS macro in SPSS 23.0 for advanced analysis, using bootstrap methods to assess mediation and moderation effects. The analysis revealed that maternal parenting stress mediates the relationship between co-parenting and children's problem behaviors. Specifically, unsupportive co-parenting or low levels of supportive co-parenting heightened maternal stress, which in turn increased children's problem behaviors. Family resilience was found to moderate this relationship, buffering the impact of unsupportive co-parenting on maternal stress. High family resilience levels were associated with lower parenting stress, regardless of co-parenting quality. These findings highlight the importance of enhancing family resilience and supportive co-parenting to mitigate parenting stress and reduce problem behaviors in children. It has practical implications for developing family-centred interventions and policies to strengthen family resilience and co-parenting skills.

Parental Stress among Family Caregivers of Children with Autism in a Teaching Hospital

Parenting is a journey that may bring joy, happiness, challenges, and frustration. However, raising children with autism with unpredictable behavior may elevate parental stress among parents and family caregivers. Objective: The study aims to assess parental stress among family caregivers of children with autism in a teaching hospital. Methods:This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted at Hospital Al-Sultan Abdullah (HASA), University Technology MARA(UiTM), using a convenient sampling technique with a total sample size of 110 parents and family caregivers of children with autism (n= 110). An online questionnaire consisting of the Parental Stress Scale (PSS) and the Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST) was used in this study to assess the level of parental stress and identify the severity of probable autistic behavior. Results:The finding shows that 75.5% of the participants were female and 94.5% were Malay. Most autistic children were male (63.6%), and most children (n= 81, 73.6%) had severe autistic behavior. However, 82.7% of participants reported low parental stress (mean = 34.41±13.06). Caregivers were found to have higher stress levels t(108) = -2.16; p=0.033). Besides, there was no significant association between the level of parental stress and the severity of autism (r=0.035, p=0.715). Conclusion:Special intervention is needed for the caregiver to improve stress management strategies by involving health care professionals for counseling and assistance to address the effects of stress. Alarger sample size is recommended for future research to enhance external validity.

Children's and Parents' Factors That Affect Parenting Stress in Preschool Children With Developmental Disabilities or Typical Development.

This study compared parenting stress in preschool children with developmental disabilities (DD) or typical development (TD). We also investigated children's factors that affect parenting stress. A total of 196 preschool children participated in the study (aged 54.8±9.2 months). There were 79 children with DD (59 with autism spectrum disorder, 61 with intellectual disability, 12 with language disorder) and 117 with TD. The high parenting stress and the low parenting stress groups were divided based on the Total Stress of Korean Parenting Stress Index Fourth Edition (K-PSI-4) with an 85-percentile cutoff score. Pearson's correlation analysis was conducted to calculate the correlation between K-PSI-4 and the children's or parents' measures. The difference in parenting stress between DD and TD was significant in the Total Stress of K-PSI-4 (p<0.001). The Total Stress scale of K-PSI-4 represented a modest to strong correlation with cognitive development, adaptive functioning, social communication, and behavioral problems in children with DD. Our results showed that caregivers of children with DD reported higher parenting stress than those with TD. Parenting stress was strongly associated with cognitive development, adaptive functioning, social communication, and behavioral problems in children with DD. Among the children's factors, especially social communication, attention problems, and aggressive behavior had association with caregivers' higher parenting stress. These findings suggest the need for early intervention for parenting stress in caregivers by assessing child characteristics, including social cognition, awareness, communication, and inattention and hyperactivity, in the evaluation of children with DD.

Parenting, dyadic coping, and child emotion regulation in lesbian, gay, and heterosexual parent families through assisted reproduction

ABSTRACT Aims The present study examined the associations between family structure, parenting, and dyadic coping and children’s emotion regulation in lesbian, gay, and heterosexual parent families through assisted reproduction. It also explored differences in parenting dimensions and dyadic coping, based on parents’ sexual orientation. Methods Participants were 60 lesbian mothers through donor insemination, 50 gay fathers through surrogacy, and 42 heterosexual parents through gamete donation, all with a child aged 6–12 years (M = 8.67; SD = 2.16; 48.68% females) and residing in Italy. In each family, both parents reported parenting stress, parent – child relational self-efficacy, parental control, dyadic coping, and their perception of the child’s emotion regulation. Results Mixed models indicated no significant differences between family types in parenting stress and use of a controlling parenting style. However, lesbian mothers reported higher parent – child relational self-efficacy than heterosexual parents, and higher dyadic coping strategies than gay fathers. Also, children of gay fathers showed greater emotion regulation than children of heterosexual parents. Across family types, higher levels of parenting stress and dyadic coping, and lower levels of parent – child relational self-efficacy were associated with lower child emotion regulation. Conclusion Given that in middle childhood, across family types, better emotional regulation was associated with lower parenting stress and dyadic coping, and greater effectiveness in the parent – child relationship clinical work should focus on the parent’s and couple’s ability to cooperatively manage stressors while maintaining a balanced focus on their children’s resources and autonomy.

Social Support and Parental Stress Among First-time Mother

Background: Being a mother is difficult because caring for the child is one of her responsibilities. When caring for children, mothers continue to do household chores in daily activities. Suppose the mother needs social support from people around her while carrying out her responsibilities. In that case, the mother will experience parental stress because she feels unloved and valued, so she cannot carry out her duties. The study aims: to find out the relationship between social support and parental stress in first-time mothers. Method: This research is a quantitative study with a correlational design and using a non-probability sampling technique. The study involved 110 first-time mothers aged 20-40. The measuring instruments used are the Social Provisions Scale (SPS) with the total items used in this study were 19 items (α = 0.98) and Parental Stress Scale (PSS) with total items used in this study were 14 items ( α = 0.913). Result: Spearman correlation test results obtained values ​​of r = -0.474 and p = 0.000 (p&lt;0.05), which showed a significant negative relationship between social support and parental stress in first-time mothers. It means that the higher the social support it has, the lower the parental stress experienced by first-time mothers or vice versa. Conclusion: Most of the participants in this study had high social support and low parental stress.

Parenting stress and Chinese preschoolers' approaches to learning: a moderated mediation model of authoritative parenting and household residency.

According to the family stress model, this study examined the relationship between parenting stress and preschoolers' approaches to learning (ATL) in China, as well as the mediating effect of authoritative parenting and the moderating effect of household residency (migrant and native). A survey of 5,047 preschoolers' parents (2,186 natives and 2,861 migrants) supports the proposed moderated mediation model. The results showed that after controlling for gender and age, parenting stress affected preschoolers' development of ATL negatively. Authoritative parenting mediates the relationship between parenting stress and preschoolers' ATL. Further, household residency moderated the relationship between authoritative parenting and preschoolers' ATL. The findings of this study suggest that high levels of parenting stress are detrimental to the development of preschoolers' ATL. And parents with low parenting stress are more likely to adopt authoritative parenting, which in turn fosters preschoolers' ATL. In addition, native families' authoritative parenting style are more conducive to fostering preschoolers' ATL than migrant families. Finally, this study contributes to previous research by examining the mechanisms of parenting stress on preschoolers' ATL and provides support for the extension of the family stress model. Importantly, it also informs efforts to improve ATL among preschoolers in Chinese migrant and native families.

0781 Relationship between Bedtime Routines with Sleep, Development, and Parenting Stress in Toddlers

Abstract Introduction Institution of a nightly bedtime routine is a key component of sleep health and is likely to foster positive early childhood development. The current study investigated the longitudinal and concurrent relationships between a bedtime routine and sleep, social-emotional development, and parenting stress in toddlers living in lower income homes and/or neighborhoods. Methods Caregivers of 78 toddlers (56.4% female; M=12.87 mos; 67.9% Black; 73.1% WIC) reported on their child’s bedtime routine at their 12-month well-child visit. At their child’s 15- and 24-month well visit, caregivers completed the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire–Revised (BISQ-R SF), the Brief Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (BITSEA), the communication and personal-social subscales of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), and the Parenting Stress Index (PSI-SF). Results were considered significant at p&amp;lt;.05. Results Toddlers with a consistent bedtime routine (5+ nights per week) at 12 months had significantly earlier bedtimes (20:54 vs 21:24) and waketimes (7:21 vs 8:48) at 24 months compared to those without a consistent routine. At 15 months, a more frequent bedtime routine was associated with fewer concurrent social-emotional problems (r = -.32) and decreased bedtime difficulty (r = -.34). At 24 months, toddlers with a consistent bedtime routine (33.3%) were less likely to exhibit concurrent BITSEA social-emotional competency concerns (66.7%). Caregivers also reported better nighttime sleep in toddlers with a consistent routine at 24 months. Additionally, caregivers whose child had a consistent routine at 15 and 24 months perceived their child as less difficult (PSI) at 24 months. However, no associations emerged between bedtime routine frequency and consistency at 12, 15, and 24 months with ASQ communication and personal-social concerns. Conclusion Bedtime routine frequency and consistency in toddlers was associated with better caregiver-perceived sleep, social-emotional development, and lower parental stress regarding their child being perceived as difficult, but not communication and personal-social concerns. A bedtime routine may be a cost-effective strategy to promote toddlers’ sleep, overall development, and family’s functioning. Support (if any) This study was partially funded by the Simms/Mann Institute

Parental stress during pregnancy and maternity.

To identify factors related to parental stress of women during pregnancy and the child's first month of life. Prospective longitudinal study in two stages. Analysis of home interviews with 121 participants, Gestational Stress Scale, and Parental Stress Scale. Fisher's exact test, Spearman's correlation, and linear and logistic multivariate regression were applied, with p < 0.05. Most of the participants were between 18 and 35 years old, had 11 to 13 years of education, had no paid work, had a partner, usually the child's father, planned pregnancy, were multiparous, and underwent prenatal care. During pregnancy, 67.8% had stress. In the first month after the child's birth, most had low parental stress (52.1%). High parental stress correlated with some gestational stress. Planning pregnancy decreased parental stress. Gestational and parental stress in the child's first month of life were correlated and pregnancy planning was a factor that reduced stress levels. Timely actions to reduce parental stress are essential for parenting and the child's overall health.

Predictors of parental stress and family function one year after rapid unprepared return: A preliminary analysis from five nations

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, some governments issued mandates requiring that residential care providers rapidly return children and youth to family. The goal of the present study was to assess outcomes in a sample of families experiencing rapid unprepared return. Specifically, we sought to evaluate the placement stability, assess support services provided to families, and examine how services received impacted parental stress and family functioning. Participants and Setting: 115 families who had experienced rapid unprepared return across five nations, including Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Mexico, and Uganda. Using a quantitative design, results examined (1) placement stability, (2) services received, and (3) the impact of services on family wellbeing. Data revealed the majority of families were still intact after 1 year. More robust support services were associated with lower parental stress and better family functioning. Occupational/financial support, such as financial assistance and job training, and material support, such as home repairs and food assistance, were vital to family wellbeing 1 year following rapid unprepared return. Rapid unprepared return creates risks to families and children, and should not be continued or repeated. However, emergency situations, government mandates or unexpected crises may force conditions for rapid unprepared return. For families that have experienced rapid unprepared return, intensive support and appropriate case management can improve the likelihood of positive outcomes and improve family wellbeing.

Review on the influence of paternal involvement in childcare on mothers, children, and fathers

Objectives Recently, paternal involvement in childcare has been gaining public attention in Japan. However, studies on the influences of active paternal involvement remain scarce. This study aimed to review the findings on the influence of paternal involvement in childcare on mothers, children, and fathers themselves from studies conducted in Japan and published mainly after 2010. Additionally, we examined methodological issues that need to be addressed when researchers conduct studies on paternal involvement in the future.Methods We reviewed 26 journal articles (22 in Japanese and 4 in English) from four databases: "Igaku Chuo Zasshi Web (Japana Centra Revuo Medicina History and Activities)," JSTPlus, JMEDPlus, and PubMed with conditions such as studies conducted in Japan, families with young children, and questionnaire-based quantitative studies. We described respondents (mothers, fathers, or both) and assessed paternal involvement in childcare, outcomes, and findings.Results We reviewed studies on paternal involvement in childcare published in Japanese after 2010 and English after 2000 and observed two trends across the studies. The first was that if mothers acknowledge active paternal involvement in childcare, mothers' parenting stress seemed to be lower, and they seemed to be happier. Moreover, for children's health and development, active paternal involvement seemed to be associated with positive results, such as prevention of unintentional injuries and obesity. However, in the second trend, we observed that active paternal involvement, assessed by the fathers themselves, were often not associated with lower parenting stress among mothers. We also could not observe a consistent trend on the findings related to the influences on fathers, due to the limited number of studies. We observed that assessment of paternal involvement in childcare was inconsistent across studies included in this review.Conclusion With more social pressure for fathers to be actively involved in childcare, public interest for the influence would be heightened. For future studies, better ways of assessing the quantity and content of paternal involvement in childcare need to be discussed.

Factors Related to Parenting Stress among Mothers with Preschool Aged Children

Introduction: Raising preschool aged children often causes stress to mothers because at this period children are still very dependent on their parents and often has behavioral problems and difficulty in managing their intense emotions.. Objective: This study aimed to determine factors associated with parenting stress among mothers with preschool aged children. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used in this study. Sample size of this study was 118 mothers who lived in Desa Jatisari, Kecamatan Jenggawah, Kabupaten Jember, selected using convenience sampling. Data was collected using a demographic questionnaire, Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF), and a social support questionnaire which was developed based on Taylor's theory of social support. Statistical analysis used univariate analysis (frequency distribution) and ordinal logistic regression with statistical significance at an alpha level of 0.05.Results: There were 90 respondents who experienced moderate parenting stress. As many as 12 mothers had low parenting stress, while 16 mothers had high parenting stress. Factors related to parenting stress were mother's education (p=0.015) and social support (p=0.000). The higher the mother's education and social support received by the mother, the lower the level of parenting stress is, and vice versa. Conclusion: In this study, level of education and social support were associated to parenting stress among mothers. Cooperation between nurses, families, and local health workers is needed to provide adequate social support to mothers with preschool children. Husbands and families are expected to provide support such as direct assistance in caring for children, appreciation, and love for mothers. Nurses can also work with local health workers in providing information to mothers related to developmental tasks of family with preschool-aged children and effective stress management for mothers experiencing parenting stress so that mothers will be more adaptive and avoid physical violence against children.

Quality of life of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and their parents during the COVID-19 pandemic: a 1-year follow-up study

This study aimed to reveal changes in the quality of life (QOL) of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and their parents, and the interaction between their QOL and parental mental state during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Eighty-nine school-aged children and parents participated in surveys in May 2020 (T1) and May 2021 (T2). The parents completed questionnaires that assessed their QOL, depression, parenting stress, and living conditions. Children’s temporary mood status was evaluated using the self-reported visual analog scale (VAS). Children’s QOL and VAS at T2 were higher than their QOL at T1. Parents’ QOL at T2 was lower than their QOL at T1. Severe parental depression at T1 had a synergistic effect on severe parenting stress and severe depressive state at T2. Additionally, children’s high QOL at T1 had a synergistic effect on low parenting stress and children’s high QOL at T2. Furthermore, children’s low VAS scores and parents’ low QOL at T2 were associated with deterioration of family economic status. Children and parents’ QOL changed during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. Improvement in children’s QOL was influenced by reduced maternal depressive symptoms. Public support for parental mental health is important to avoid decreasing QOL.

An Observational Study of Demographic Variables and Parenting Stress, the Extent of Children’s Screen Addiction and its Impact on Parenting Stress During the Period of Covid-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Study

Background: Many parents experience stress specifically related to parenting. Parenting duties have increased significantly as Children are at home entire day. It has been found that children staying at home due to lockdown spend more time in front of TV screens, mobile phones and internet which can lead to psycho-social problems. This further increases parental stress. The purpose of this study was to asses parenting stress, and to understand the components responsible and incidence of screen addiction in children during lockdown. Methods: The study was designed as cross-sectional observational study. After the ethical approval, the samples were collected online using google forms. The data was collected between September to December 2021. The parents of children under 18 years of age were selected for the study. Parent stress scale, Children’s screen addiction test was used for determining parental stress and screen use respectively. Result: 60.5% were male and 39.5% were female. 90.6% participants were Hindu, 6.04% were Muslim, rest 3.3% were others. 93.4 % were married, 3.3% were divorced, and 2.7 % had widowed status. For single child average parenting stress score was 58.31, for 2, 3, and 4/4+ was 59.21, 66.05 and 78.9 respectively. 45.60% (N=83) participants had high levels and 54.40 % had low parental stress. There was 43.3% rise in parental stress during pandemic. On comparative analysis of Parental stress before and during lockdown, 12.63% reported decrease, 15.38% reported no change, and 71.97% reported increase in parental stress. 14.8% children had problematic use of screen use and 76.37% (N=139) had severe problem of screen use. Conclusion: We are currently living in a difficult time, where a global pandemic has led to detrimental changes for almost all aspects of daily living. Many of these changes are consistent with the risk factors for parental stress, which is particularly troubling as parents. It is important that we recognize parenting stress as a phenomenon that is possible, and even probable, during periods of pandemic.

Reciprocal influences between marital quality, parenting stress, and parental depression in Chinese families of children with oppositional defiant disorder symptoms

An increasing body of research showed families with ODD children struggle with impaired quality of family interactions, such as low marital quality and high parenting stress. Yet relatively little is known about their interplay in families of children with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms. To examine longitudinal, reciprocal associations, we utilize a three-year, cross-lagged design with a sample of 340 Chinese families of children with ODD symptoms. We also examined the role of parental depression. Marital quality, parenting stress, and parental depression were measured at each wave (T1, T2, and T3) across three years. Results support the “spillover” hypothesis in both directions, such that parenting stress significantly and directly predicts low marital quality, and impaired marital quality predicts parenting stress largely through parental depression. Our findings clearly evidenced the reciprocal relationship between marital and parent-child relationship, and further revealed two different processes for their interplays, among families of children with ODD symptoms. The present study extended the prior understanding of associations between marital and parent-child subsystems and provided suggestions for enhancing the quality of whole family life for families of children with ODD symptoms.

Parental, child and socio-contextual factors associated with parenting self-efficacy among parents of children aged 0\u20137\xa0years old: the CIKEO study

BackgroundA high parenting self-efficacy (PSE) has been associated with positive parenting and positive child development. However, there is limited and inconsistent information on factors associated with PSE.ObjectiveTo investigate factors associated with PSE in parents of children aged 0–7 years old, and to explore whether the associations were different between mothers and fathers.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional analysis of the baseline data from a prospective cohort study: the CIKEO study. A total of 1012 parents (mean age = 33.8, SD = 5.0) completed self-reported measure of PSE and 18 potential factors associated with PSE.ResultsMultivariable models revealed that lower parenting stress, fewer child behavior problems, better eating behavior, better parental and child general health, a smaller number of children living in the household, higher perceived level of social support and having a migration background were associated with higher levels of PSE (p < 0.05). The association between family functioning and PSE differed between mothers and fathers (p for interaction = 0.003): with beta and 95% confidence interval being: 1.29 (− 2.05, 0.87), and 0.23 (− 0.46, 3.29), respectively.ConclusionsA range of parental, child and social-contextual factors in relation to PSE were identified. The patterns of associations for most of the factors were similar among mothers and fathers. However, the association between family functioning and PSE might differ for mothers and fathers. Our findings are relevant for tailoring and implementing successful interventions and effective policy making in child care.Trial registrationNetherlands National Trial Register number NL7342. Date of registration: 05-November-2018, retrospectively registered.