Older Parents Research Articles

Child-to-parent intergenerational support and its association with subjective well-being among older adults: A cross-national comparison of American and Korean parents

Rapid population aging in the United States and South Korea has implications for intergenerational relationships and support between adult children and older parents. However, given the two countries’ different cultural and social norms and economic development, older adults’ perceptions and experiences of intergenerational support may differ. This study utilizes data from the 2018 wave of the Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing to examine the relationship between intergenerational support from children to parents and the subjective well-being of older American and Korean parents. Employing the Probit model, our findings reveal significant and positive associations between receiving emotional support from adult children and the well-being of older parents in both countries. However, receiving financial transfers from adult children is negatively associated with the subjective well-being of older American parents, while this association is positive but not statistically significant among older Korean parents. Furthermore, we explored specific subgroups and found that child-to-parent emotional contact significantly contributes to the subjective well-being of fathers, individuals not living with their children, and parents in higher income percentiles. In contrast, receiving financial transfers from adult children plays a significantly positive role in the well-being of older Korean mothers and parents in lower income percentiles. These results highlight the importance of developing interventions tailored to specific countries and groups and effectively addressing the unique needs and challenges older adults face in diverse cultural and socioeconomic contexts.

The role of family communication patterns in intergenerational COVID-19 discussions and preventive behaviors: a social cognitive approach

BackgroundThis study explores and compares the influences of family communication patterns (conversation orientation and conformity orientation) on family discussion and preventive behaviors for older parents and their adult children in the context of the early COVID-19 outbreak.MethodsA total of 248 participants, including 117 parents and 131 adult children, participated in an online survey in February 2020. Participants reported family communication patterns, family discussions related to COVID-19, and their preventive behaviors.ResultsConversation orientation was positively associated with information sharing and scientific discussion for older parents and adult children. Our results revealed the differential influences of conformity orientation on older parents and adult children. Conformity orientation was positively associated with scientific discussion for older parents but was not significantly associated with any form of family discussion reported by adult children. There was a significant interaction effect of conversation orientation and conformity orientation on disputed communication within the family, suggesting that conflicts may arise in COVID-related discussions when parents and adult children value conversation and conformity. Scientific discussion was found to mediate the relationships between family communication patterns and preventive behaviors. The effects of scientific discussions were stronger for older parents than for adult children.ConclusionsFamily communication patterns can be associated with preventive behaviors through different forms of family discussion about COVID-19. Conversation orientation is a strong facilitator for positive behavioral effects and scientific discussion is the most benign form of family health discussion. Health communication efforts should enhance the agency role of the family and motivate scientific discussion in health practices.

Physical and mental health among older parents: Does offspring migration and living arrangement matter? Findings from Longitudinal Aging Survey in India (2017-18)

The migration of adult children can have beneficial and adverse effects on the health outcomes of elderly parents left behind. This study examines the effects of adult children's migration on self-rated health and depression among older parents using Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) 2017-18 with 19,401 individuals aged 60 years or older. Binary logistic regression models were performed to determine the association of self-rated health and depression with adult-child migration status while adjusting for living arrangements and socioeconomic factors. Results show that 36 percent of older parents have at least one migrant child, and 35 percent are empty nesters. Older adults living with their children experience positive impacts on their physical and mental health. Our study reveals that empty-nested elderly have a higher prevalence of poor self-rated health and depression. Irrespective of migrant children, the availability of children in the household matters most regarding parents' health care, as our study suggests no significant difference in physical and mental health among left-behind and non-left-behind older parents. This study aims to draw policymakers' attention to the impact of adult children or youth migration on older parents' physical and mental health. To address this issue, policies should prioritize raising awareness among migrant children of older adults about the importance of maintaining frequent contact and visiting their aging parents.

Moving for proximity to family, care needs and the locations of family members: An analysis of matched survey and register data

AbstractProximity to family forms a quite common motivation for moving. Older adults' care needs may underlie this motivation, but little is known about the extent to which this is the case. We investigate how moving motivated by proximity to family is associated with (1) the residential locations of parents, siblings and children and (2) indicators of older adults' care needs. We employ data from five Netherlands' Housing Surveys (2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018) matched with register data. Uniquely, we use indicators of parents' formal care use in analyses for respondents aged 30–64, and own care use for respondents aged 65 and older. We find that, as hypothesised, those whose parents or children live far away are more likely to move for proximity reasons than others. However, we do not find such an association for siblings living far away. Contrary to expectations, respondents are more likely to report moving for proximity reasons if they have geographically distant parents who do not use care than if they have distant parents who do. We find no convincing evidence that older parents' own care needs induce moves motivated by proximity to family. Rather, own care needs induce moves that are motivated by health or a need for care but are mostly not directed towards family.

Mental health effects of adult children’s outmigration on older parents in Central and Eastern Europe

Objective To examine the association between adult children’s migration and depression among older parents in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and explore the role of intergenerational support in contributing to their depression. Methods Data are from the eighth wave of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), pooling a study sample of 11 CEE countries, with a cross-sectional design. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and hierarchical linear regression were conducted using a study sample of 9133 respondents. Results Older adults whose children migrated over 500 km were more likely to experience depression compared to those with no migrant child or all children within 500 km. Among intergenerational support, frequent parent-child contact mitigated the effects of migration on depression in older parents with all their children who migrated over 500 km. Conclusion This study suggests that older parents with migrant children over 500 km away should be considered a vulnerable population at risk for mental health in CEE countries. It is crucial for local governments and policymakers to address these challenges through improving integrated mental health and social programs for better mental health outcomes among older adults in CEE countries.

Child Gender and Subjective Well-Being of Older Parents in China

Child Gender and Subjective Well-Being of Older Parents in China

90 Combining scoping review and concept analysis methodologies to clarify the meaning of filial coercive control

Abstract Background Increasingly the phenomena of non-intimate coercive control has been identified as a significant social problem experienced by older adults. This form of elder abuse occurs in relationships where there is an expectation of trust and shares many attributes with psychological elder abuse. Extensive research studies have examined how coercive control is enacted within intimate relationships. However, our understanding of how adult children employ strategies of coercive control in their relationships with their older parents is severely limited. Methods Scoping review and concept analysis methodologies were combined in a hybrid model to clarify and analyse the concept of filial coercive control. The framework proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR), guided the systematic literature review. Then, using the steps of Rodger’s (1989) evolutionary concept analysis, the antecedents, attributes, and consequences of filial coercive control were described in detail. Results This study has extended the theoretical framework of elder abuse by incorporating filial coercive control as a subtype of abuse experienced by older adults. The subject area is complex and heterogenous, encompassing literature generated in the disciplines of law, social science, psychology, and criminology among others. This research has enabled the construction of a theoretical conceptual boundary around the subject by identifying key concepts, theories, surrogate terms and sources of evidence of filial coercive control. Conclusion As an emergent topic area, the phenomena of coercive control has been subject to inconsistent terminology. The theoretical framework underpinning the literature has not always been explicitly stated leading to confusion about how the phenomena is constructed. Using scoping review and concept analysis methods, it was possible to gain a better understanding about the evolution of the concept of filial coercive control enabling us to propose a tentative operational definition.

Building a family at advanced parental age: a systematic review on the risks and opportunities for parents and their offspring.

What is the existing empirical literature on the psychosocial health and wellbeing of the parents and offspring born at an advanced parental age (APA), defined as 40 years onwards? Although the studies show discrepancies in defining who is an APA parent and an imbalance in the empirical evidence for offspring, mothers, and fathers, there is a drive towards finding psychotic disorders and (neuro-)developmental disorders among the offspring; overall, the observed advantages and disadvantages are difficult to compare. In many societies, children are born to parents at advanced ages and there is rising attention in the literature towards the consequences of this trend. The systematic search was conducted in six electronic databases (PubMed including Medline, Embase, Scopus, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and SocINDEX) and was limited to papers published between 2000 and 2021 and to English-language articles. Search terms used across all six electronic databases were: ('advanced parental age' OR 'advanced maternal age' OR 'advanced paternal age' OR 'advanced reproductive age' OR 'late parent*' OR 'late motherhood' OR 'late fatherhood') AND ('IVF' OR 'in vitro fertilization' OR 'in-vitro-fertilization' OR 'fertilization in vitro' OR 'ICSI' OR 'intracytoplasmic sperm injection' OR 'reproductive techn*' OR 'assisted reproductive technolog*' OR 'assisted reproduction' OR 'assisted conception' OR 'reproduction' OR 'conception' OR 'birth*' OR 'pregnan*') AND ('wellbeing' OR 'well-being' OR 'psycho-social' OR 'social' OR 'ethical' OR 'right to reproduce' OR 'justice' OR 'family functioning' OR 'parental competenc*' OR 'ageism' OR 'reproductive autonomy' OR 'outcome' OR 'risk*' OR 'benefit*'). The included papers were empirical studies in English published between 2000 and 2021, where the study either examined the wellbeing and psychosocial health of parents and/or their children, or focused on parental competences of APA parents or on the functioning of families with APA parents. A quality assessment of the identified studies was performed with the QATSDD tool. Additionally, 20% of studies were double-checked at the data extraction and quality assessment stage to avoid bias. The variables sought were: the geographical location, the year of publication, the methodological approach, the definitions of APA used, what study group was at the centre of the research, what research topic was studied, and what advantages and disadvantages of APA were found. A total number of 5403 articles were identified, leading to 2543 articles being included for title and abstract screening after removal of duplicates. This resulted in 98 articles included for a full-text reading by four researchers. Ultimately, 69 studies were included in the final sample. The key results concerned four aspects relevant to the research goals. (i) The studies showed discrepancies in defining who is an APA parent. (ii) There was an imbalance in the empirical evidence produced for different participant groups (mothers, fathers, and offspring), with offspring being the most studied study subjects. (iii) The research topics studied underlined the increased risks of neuro-developmental and psychotic disorders among offspring. (iv) The observed advantages and disadvantages were varied and could not be compared, especially for the offspring of APA parents. Only English-language studies, published between 2000 and 2021, found in the above-mentioned databases were considered for this review. More research is necessary to understand the risks and benefits of building a family at an APA for the offspring when they reach adulthood. Furthermore, studies that explore the perspective of older fathers and older parents from non-Western societies would be highly informative. The writing of this manuscript was permitted by financial support provided by the Swiss National Science Foundation (Weave/Lead Agency funding program, grant number 10001AL_197415/1, project title 'Family Building at Advanced Parental Age: An Interdisciplinary Approach'). The funder had no role in the drafting of this manuscript and the views expressed therein are those of the authors. The authors have no conflicts of interest. This systematic review is registered in Prospero: CRD42022304564.

Geographic Relocation in Response to Parents' Health Shocks: Who Moves and How Close?

This article examines how parent-child geographic proximity changes around the onset of parental health shocks in the United States. Differences in the likelihood of moving closer across social groups are also investigated. Adult children often care for older parents with health problems, but this requires relatively close proximity. As families are becoming smaller and many adult children live away from their parents, it is unclear how responsive families will be to older adults' health problems. We estimate a series of fixed effects and event study models on data from the Health and Retirement Study (2004-2018) to assess changes in parent-child proximity after parents' first onset of cognitive impairment and functional limitations. We find robust evidence that parents and children tend to stay close or move closer to each other in response to parent's health declines. Moves occur immediately and in subsequent waves after the onset of health shocks. Reductions in parent-child distance are consistently larger among mother-daughter dyads, dyads without spouses or multiple children, and non-Hispanic white families. The geographic availability of adult children to provide care is responsive to parents' needs. After the onset of a serious health condition, most older adults have a spouse or child living close enough to provide care. Parents' and children's lives are dynamically linked, and either or both may relocate to facilitate care.

Individual and Family Determinants for Quality of Life in Parents of Children With Inborn Errors of Metabolism Requiring a Restricted Diet: A Multilevel Analysis Approach

ABSTRACT Inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) requiring a restricted diet can have a significant impact on both children and their caregivers. Previous research has shown conflicting findings in the quality of life (QoL) of caregivers specifically, as many factors can influence daily interactions: home care demands, the potential for acute health crises and hospitalization, dietary constraints, medications, and others. Influencing factors have previously been reported to include emotional, adaptive, and socioeconomic factors, and previous research has varied greatly in sample characteristics, methods of collecting data and measuring QoL, and methods of analysis. This study was performed to clarify previous findings and provide a clearer picture of QoL in parents of children with IEMs requiring a restricted diet compared with the general population based on parent self-report. The final analysis included 785 parents of 578 children with IEMs requiring a restricted diet. Quality of life was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life–BREF and was compared with age- and sex-matched control subjects from the general population. Parents of children with IEMs requiring a restricted diet in this study population experienced a significantly lower QoL in the areas of physical health (mean, −6.09 [SD, 15.01]) and social relationships (mean, −6.82 [SD, 17.71]), as well as a significantly higher QoL in psychological health (mean, +3.10 [SD, 14.25]). Multivariate models were examined to determine factors responsible for these differences in QoL; parental anxiety was negatively associated with all QoL domains. Other factors negatively associated with at least 1 domain included being a father (physical health and social relationships), older parent (physical and psychological health), having an education higher than high school (psychological health), and using more social support–seeking coping strategies (physical health and environment). Factors positively associated with at least 1 domain included having an education level higher than high school (environment), being a working parent (physical and psychological health, environment), and using more positive thinking coping strategies (psychological health). Child-related factors negatively associated with parental QoL included having at least 1 disease complication (social relationships and environment) and a higher number of hospital medical providers (physical health). A child being older positively impacted parental QoL in the environment domain. It is not uncommon for parents of children with chronic diseases or impairments to experience a lower QoL. In this study, some aspects of QoL were enhanced by the demands of caregiving, and some were negatively impacted. Discrepancies in previous literature may be partially attributed to varying tests, variable characteristics within a sample (eg, longer time since diagnosis), or differences in analysis methods. The results in this study indicate a potential need for resources to support parents of children with IEMs requiring a restricted diet. Previous literature has shown efficacy in providing in-home health care professionals for occasional relief of caregiving duties for parents, as well as support groups of parents in similar situations. Parental anxiety in particular was shown to impact QoL negatively in all domains, and thus targeting interventions toward reducing parental anxiety might be one way to improve QoL. The adaptation of parents to their child's condition and to the demands of caregiving could explain some aspects of the QoL difference from the general population, but these differences should still be addressed to improve QoL.

Older adults' support seeking from their adult children: The Support-Seeking Strategy Scale.

Due to the unavailability of assessment tools focused on support recipients, the aged-care literature has not been able to document the support seeking that occurs within familial support contexts. Therefore, we developed and validated a Support-Seeking Strategy Scale in a large sample of aging parents receiving care from their adult children. A pool of items was developed by an expert panel and administered to 389 older adults (over 60 years of age), all of whom were receiving support from an adult child. Participants were recruited on Amazon mTurk and Prolific. The online survey included self-report measures assessing parents' perceptions of support received from their adult children. The Support-Seeking Strategies Scale was best represented by 12 items across three factors-one factor representing the directness with which support is sought (direct) and two factors regarding the intensity with which support is sought (hyperactivated and deactivated). Direct support seeking was associated with more positive perceptions of received support from an adult child, whereas hyperactivated and deactivated support seeking were associated with more negative perceptions of received support. Older parents use three distinct support-seeking strategies: direct, hyperactivated, and deactivated with their adult child. The results suggest that direct seeking of support is a more adaptive strategy, whereas persistent and intense seeking of support (i.e., hyperactivated support seeking) or suppressing the need for support (i.e., deactivated support seeking) are more maladaptive strategies. Future research using this scale will help us better understand support seeking within the familial aged-care context and beyond. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

The Hatching Time of Broiler Chickens Modifies Not Only the Production Traits but Also the Early Bacteriota Development of the Ceca.

This trial was carried out to find out the effects of the parent flock and hatching time of broiler chickens on the production traits and bacteriota development of animals. Two sets of 730 hatching eggs were collected from two different parent flocks with ages of 25 and 50 weeks. In the hatchery, both groups were divided into two subgroups: those hatched during the first 10 and the subsequent 10 h of the hatching window. A feeding trial was carried out afterwards, using the four treatments in six replicate floor pens and feeding commercial starter, grower, and finisher diets that contained all the nutrients according to the breeder's recommendations. The day-old chickens of the older parent flock and those hatched later were heavier, and this advantage remained until the end of the production period. The different ages and origins of the parent flocks failed to modify the microbiological parameters of the chicken's ceca; however, the hatching time significantly influenced the different bacteriota diversity indices: the late-hatched chickens showed higher Bacteroidetes and lower Firmicutes and Actinobacteria abundances at day 11. These treatments resulted in differences in the main families, Ruminococcaceae, Lactobacillaceae, and Bacteroidaceae. These differences could not be found at day 39.

Intergenerational solidarity and digital communication during the Covid-19 pandemic in South Korea: Implications for dyadic well-being.

Previous research has not considered how digital communication fits with the established intergenerational solidarity paradigm, although the paradigm has undergone other refinements over time. Consequently, less is known about how the use of digital communication creates new types of intergenerational solidarity between parents and adult children, and how they are associated with their well-being. With this foundation, we aimed to identify new dyadic patterns of intergenerational solidarity between parents and adult children during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea, with an emphasis on digital communication (texting, video call, and social media interaction), its intersection with other dimensions of solidarity, and its association with parents' and children's well-being (depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and life satisfaction). Using an online survey method, we collected data from 407 parent-adult child dyads between April and June 2022 from the Seoul Metropolitan area in South Korea. Three-step latent class analysis was used for data analysis. We identified four classes describing intergenerational solidarity between parents and adult children (tight-knit, distant-but-digitally-connected, conflictual, and independent). We found that among dyads of parents and adult children who had tight-knit and distant-but-digitally-connected relationships with each other, parents reported better well-being on all three outcomes, and children reported better life satisfaction compared to dyads who had conflictual relationships. Our findings suggest that incorporating digital communication into the intergenerational solidarity paradigm is useful to better understand the multidimensional characteristics of intergenerational relationships between older parents and their adult children.

Satisfaction With Children's Achievements and Health Outcomes in a Sample of Community Older Adults in Nigeria.

In most African societies with little or no social welfare services for older adults, many parents regard their children as personal investments and security for the future. As a result, satisfaction with children's achievements may be necessary for older parents' physical and mental health. This study examined the association between satisfaction with adult children's achievements (SACA) and health outcomes (regarding somatic health, self-rated health, anxiety, and depression) in a sample of Nigerian older adults. By using the multistage sampling technique in a cross-sectional survey, 465 older adults (mean age = 74.18 ± 9.42) consisting of 294 women were selected from 14 rural communities in a State in Nigeria. Data were collected using validated instruments and analyzed using multiple linear regression and multigroup analyses in SPSS AMOS. High SACA was significantly associated with low somatic health problems, positive self-rated health, and low levels of anxiety and depression, even after controlling for sociodemographic factors, children's support, social engagement, and loneliness. Further analyses indicated that the relationship between SACA and depression was only significant in women and more robust in the widowed. Also, SACA was associated with somatic health among the married but not the widowed. The level of children's support was not a significant moderator. Parents can experience positive emotions and, consequently, good health from being satisfied with their children's achievements regardless of perceived children's support. Assessing SACA may aid in better diagnoses and formulation of a more effective clinical intervention to improve the well-being of older adults in developing societies.

Measures to support informal care for the older adults in Kazakhstan: a review of the current status.

The demand for informal caregivers to support the older adults has grown worldwide in recent decades. However, informal caregivers themselves require support. This article aims to examine existing support measures for caregivers of the older adults in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Relevant articles and grey literature were identified through manual searches on Google and Google Scholar, as well as electronic searches using indexed databases like PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Moreover, the reference lists of identified sources and government ministry websites were meticulously scrutinized. This review highlights the scarcity of research on caregiver support measures in Kazakhstan, supported by the lack of peer-reviewed articles on this subject. A comprehensive analysis of the literature shows that in Kazakhstan's legislative framework, "caregivers" exclusively refers to individuals providing care for a first-degree disability. The responsibility of caring for older adults parents lies with able-bodied children. However, there is a lack of registration and assessment procedures to evaluate the burden and quality of life of caregivers. As a result, the medical and social support provided to caregivers is standardized, failing to adequately address their unique needs and requirements. The analysis of current support measures for informal caregivers highlights the need to develop support mechanisms and recognize individuals providing informal care as key figures in the long-term care system.

Different Interpretations of "Honor Your Parents": Implications for Obligation of Parental Caregiving.

Many religious and cultural settings embrace the principle to "honor your parents." However, how individuals understand and enact this mandate varies by cultural context and community. The different understanding of "honor your parents" draws attention to motivations for parental caregiving across cultural contexts. This study investigates how individuals in 3 different cultural settings conceptualize "honoring your parents" and how these conceptualizations affect their perceptions of obligations to care for an older parent. Semistructured interviews with 153 individuals in the United States, Ghana, and Nigeria explored the concept of "honor your parents," how it is understood, and its relationship to the perceived obligation to care for one's parents. A content analysis was applied to all transcripts and analyzed for discussion. Among individuals in the United States, "honor your parents" is less likely to be conceived as providing material and instrumental care to a parent, and more in terms of emotional care. In contrast, individuals in Nigeria and Ghana closely associated "honor your parents" with providing material and instrumental care to a parent. Understanding how different conceptions of "honor your parents" translate to expectations for and modes of parental caregiving can illuminate how caregiving needs can be met for the aging populations of the United States, Ghana, and Nigeria.

Adult attachment and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older parents: a moderated mediation model of cognitive reappraisal and social connectedness

Adult attachment and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older parents: a moderated mediation model of cognitive reappraisal and social connectedness

Caring for a home-dwelling older parent with mental health problems: a narrative analysis of family caregivers’ experiences

ABSTRACT Purpose To gain knowledge regarding family caregivers of home-dwelling older adults with mental health problems and the meaning-making of the caregiver’s role. Design An explorative qualitative study involving narrative analysis. Methods Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted among eight adult children. Interview data were analysed using narrative analysis. The reporting adhered to consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies. Results Each participant narrated unique and nuanced stories of the caregiver role, but their stories also revealed prominent themes across participants’ experiences and meaning-making. The analysis revealed three themes: family relationships through a long life, a demanding and difficult caregiver role, and reconstructing the caregiver’s role by leaving the responsibility to healthcare services. Conclusion Family caregivers experienced the role as purposeful and demanding. Mostly, psychological reactions to behaviour symptoms and duration of caregiving were considered difficult and demanding. They described that they lacked knowledge of the illness and how to perform care. Sharing care responsibility with healthcare services had the potential to ease family caregivers’ burden. However, based on a long life as caregivers, some experienced difficulties when reconstructing and adjusting the role to their life situation.

The Feminization of Migration and Mental Health of Older Parents Left Behind: Evidence from Indonesia

With female outmigration for work on the rise, it becomes pertinent to examine how the evolving gender composition of labor migrant streams influences the well-being of those left behind at origin. This study investigates whether a daughter's outmigration for work distinctly affects the mental health of older parents left behind, drawing on the case of Indonesia — one of the largest sources of male and female migrant labor in the world. It uses individual fixed effects regressions to model changing mental health outcomes for a representative panel of 2,133 older parents, ages 50 or more, from the 2007–2008 and 2014–2015 Indonesia Family Life Survey. It finds that older parents, specifically older mothers, who had a daughter migrate for work between waves saw a greater increase in depression over time compared to those who had (a) no labor migrant children in either wave, and (b) only labor migrant sons in both waves. Possible reasons for these gendered mental health implications are discussed, including loss of preferred caregivers at origin, concerns about migrant children's precarity at destination, worries about married migrant daughters’ family stability, and anxieties about unmarried migrant daughters engaging in premarital relationships at destination. This study underscores the need to consider gender-based heterogeneities in future investigations on the impact of migration on those left behind, and in social protection efforts for vulnerable elderly.

The examination of demographics influences on the digital parenting awareness of parents with 3-6 years old children

This study aims to reveal the differences between digital parenting awareness by gender of the parent, age of the parent, perceived socioeconomic status of parent, daily internet usage duration of the parent, educational level of the parent, age of the child, number of children, and using a control app. Utilizing a cross-sectional survey method, the participants of the study consist of 308 parents with children ages 3 to 6. The Demographic Information Form and Digital Parenting Awareness Scale were administered and analyzed based on quantitative parametric analysis methods. Results showed that some demographics vary between mothers’ and fathers’ digital parenting awareness. Mothers show higher digital parenting awareness. Older parents are inclined to be digitally negligent of their children. Parents’ socioeconomic and educational levels almost do not influence digital parenting awareness. Parents do not act differently in digital environments regarding their pre-school age children. One-child families protect their kids from digital risks more than three-child families. It is important to emphasize that parents using the internet daily for more than four hours tend to have less awareness. Fathers/mothers using a parental control app have higher awareness to save and monitor their children online.