Parental Well-being Research Articles

Parental Stress and Psychological Distress and Their Association With Spousal Support Among Parents of School-Age Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic in South India: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to families in the form of social isolation, economic difficulties and inaccessibility of educational and supportive services. To assess the levels of parental stress and psychological distress among parents of school-age children during the COVID-19 pandemic and to analyse its correlation with spousal support. A cross-sectional, web-based study was conducted among the parents of school-age children in south India. One hundred thirty-two completed responses were obtained. Study tools included Parental Stress Scale, Spouse Support Scale and Kessler's psychological distress scale-6 item version. The mean parental stress score was 42.39 ± 9.679. Sixty percent of the participants reported moderate to high levels of psychological distress. Parental stress and psychological distress scores were noted to have a significant negative correlation with spousal support scores (r=-.486, p=.000 and r=-.401, p=.000 respectively). Our study findings show that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the psychological well-being of parents of school-age children. Supportive interventions to address parenting difficulties need to be undertaken to prevent long-term adverse mental health outcomes. Lessons learnt from the pandemic are important for clinicians and policymakers to take measures to alleviate parental stress as well as to promote the psychological well-being of parents and children.

Preliminary Validation of Stigma Measures Among Parents of Children Who Are d/Deaf or Hard of Hearing in the United States and Ghana

Objectives: Parents are integral to the development and overall well-being of their child. Previous research has studied the emotional effects parenting experiences have on parents. However, parents caring for children with disabilities have unique parenting experiences, filled with both victories and challenges. Parenting a child with disabilities can bring additional responsibilities as parents respond to their child’s special needs. Specifically, parents of children who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing (d/DHH) are required to make ongoing life-changing decisions about their child’s life, including mode of communication, medical care, and education. Across the world, many adults who are d/DHH experience stigma. However, less is known about the stigma faced by children who are d/DHH and their parents. Measuring the nature and magnitude of stigma-affecting parents of children who are d/DHH could offer insights into how to additionally support these parents. Nonetheless, there is a gap in validated scales to measure stigma among parents of children who are d/DHH. In response, we developed and preliminarily validated five measures of stigma among parents of children who are d/DHH. Design: Measures were developed through a mixed-method process: (1) a scoping literature review, (2) a modified Delphi process consisting of two group discussions (n = 3, n = 4) and two individual discussions with parents of children who are d/DHH from high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), (3) cognitive interviews with parents of children who are d/DHH in the United States (U.S.) (n = 5) and Ghana (n = 5), and (4) a pretest of the survey in the U.S. (n = 28) and Ghana (n = 30). Modifications to the measures were made after each stage. This article focuses on evaluating the psychometric performance of the developed measures. Parents were recruited in the U.S. (n = 100) and Ghana (n = 173). Convenience sampling was used in both countries. In Ghana, survey administration was in-person with trained interviewers collecting data on tablets. In the U.S. data were collected online through self-administered surveys. Results: The final five scales measured: (1) parental observation of stigma their child experiences (seven items), (2) parental perceptions of stigma toward their child (eight items), (3) parental secondary experienced stigma (eight items), (4) perceived parental secondary stigma (five items), and (5) parental internalized stigma (seven items). All scales performed strongly and similarly across both country samples. The scales had ordinal αs ranging from 0.864 to 0.960, indicating strong reliability. Conclusions: This study provides a set of preliminarily validated stigma measures to capture the experience of parents of children who are d/DHH. Measuring stigma among parents is critical to understanding parental mental health, as parental well-being affects the health and development of their child. Furthermore, measuring observed stigma by parents can allow the researcher to gain an understanding of the stigma experienced by children who are d/DHH that they may not be able to communicate. Further studies testing these measures across other countries and with more diverse samples are needed.

The Mediating Role of Parenting: How parental well-being and distress influence child behaviors

The Mediating Role of Parenting: How parental well-being and distress influence child behaviors

Effectiveness of Integrative Structural Family Therapy and Double ABCX Model on Marital Adjustment and Parenting Stress Among Parents of Children with Autism: Randomized Controlled Trial

Marital adjustment is an important predictor of coping with stress among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A randomized controlled trial conducted on 60 parents of children with ASD showed that integrative SFT and double ABCX therapy, conducted over ten sessions of multiple family therapy in group counseling for five weeks and a one-month follow-up at special needs children’s centers in Jordan, resulted in a 48% increase in marital adjustment and a 34% reduction in parenting stress. These therapies significantly improved the well-being of parents of children with autism, while the control group did not.

Quality of life in SCN1A-related seizure disorders across the lifespan.

This cohort study aims to describe the evolution of disease features and health-related quality of life per life stage in Dravet syndrome and other SCN1A-related non-Dravet seizure disorders which will enable treating physicians to provide tailored care. Health-related quality of life and disease features were assessed cross-sectionally in participants with a SCN1A-related seizure disorder, categorized per age group for Dravet syndrome, and longitudinally over seven years follow-up (2015-2022). Data were collected from questionnaires, medical records, and semi-structured telephonic interviews. Health-related quality of life was measured with the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory, proxy-reported for participants with Dravet syndrome and for participants with non-Dravet aged younger than 18 years old and self-reported for participants with non-Dravet over 18 years old. Associations between health-related quality of life and disease features were explored with multivariable regression analyses, cross-sectionally in a cohort of 115 patients with Dravet and 48 patients with generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus and febrile seizures (non-Dravet) and longitudinally in a cohort of 52 Dravet patients and 13 non-Dravet patients. In the cross-sectional assessment in 2022, health-related quality of life was significantly lower in Dravet syndrome, compared to non-Dravet and normative controls. Health-related quality of life in the School and Psychosocial domain was significantly higher in older Dravet age groups. A higher health-related quality of life was associated with fewer behavioural problems [β = -1.1; 95% confidence interval (CI), (-1.4 to -0.8)], independent walking (β = 8.5; 95%CI (4.2-12.8)), compared to the use of a wheelchair), and fewer symptoms of autonomic dysfunction (β = -2.1, 95%CI (-3.2 to -1.0)). Longitudinally, health-related quality of life was significantly higher seven years later in the course of disease in Dravet participants (Δ8.9 standard deviation (SD) 18.0, P < 0.05), mediated by a lower prevalence of behavioural problems (β = -1.2, 95%CI (-2.0 to -0.4)), lower seizure frequency (β = -0.1, 95%CI (-0.2 to -0.0)) and older age (β = 0.03, 95%CI (0.01-0.04)). In summary, health-related quality of life was significantly higher at older age in Dravet syndrome. This finding may reflect the benefits of an advanced care strategy in recent years and a ceiling of severity of disease symptoms, possibly resulting in an increased wellbeing of parents and patients. The strong association with behavioural problems reinforces the need to incorporate a multidisciplinary approach, tailored to the age-specific needs of this patient group, into standard care.

An examination of sleep problems and parental well-being, comparing families with and without autistic children

BackgroundSleep problems are a common comorbidity in autistic children and adolescents. Little is known about the role of sleep problems in parental well-being in the context of autism. MethodThe current study utilised actigraphy and questionnaire-based measures in mothers of autistic children and adolescents (n = 11), and mothers of typically developing (TD) children and adolescents (n = 11). Actigraphy is an objective, non-intrusive method for examining sleep. It involves wearing a wristwatch-like microcomputer that records motion. Measures included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Autoimmune Disease in Family Members Questionnaire, Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, World Health Organization Quality of Life Abbreviated Version (WHOQOL-BREF), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. ResultsMothers of autistic children had significantly greater difficulties with subjective sleep quality, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, and daytime dysfunction, than mothers of TD children. In mothers of autistic children, parental use of sleep medication on the PSQI was positively associated with objective sleep onset latency using actigraphy, with a large effect size. Families with an autistic child had significantly more family members with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis than did families of TD children. Families of autistic children had significantly more autistic family members than did families of TD children. ConclusionsMothers of autistic children had significantly higher levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and lower levels of quality of life and perceived social support, than parents of TD children. Sleep problems identified via actigraphy were associated with parental stress, anxiety and depression, and quality of life.

Continuous Support from the Same Public Health Nurse and Parental Perception and Use of Health Care Services: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Continuity is considered essential for high-quality maternal and child health care services, but studies to show this effect on parental well-being are still rare. We studied whether receiving support from the same public health nurse has a beneficial effect on parental perceptions of health care professionals and the use of childcare support services. Maternal and child health care services were provided by different nurses in a Japanese municipality until March 2019. From April 2019, all families with infants received continuous support from the same assigned nurse. A questionnaire covering parental perception and the use of services was sent by postal mail to 1,341 families with infants. The data were analyzed using χ2-test, t-test and logistic regression producing odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Parental perceptions of the availability of professionals to discuss children's issues, the degree of understanding about available other childcare support services, the degree of utilizing other services, and satisfaction with health care services were higher in parents who received continuous support from the same assigned nurse compared to those who did not receive continuous support. Continuous support was associated with parental perceptions of the availability of professionals to discuss children's issues (OR = 1.97, 95% CI 1.34-2.91) and the degree of understanding about available other child-care support services (OR = 1.65, 95% CI 1.11-2.44) after adjusting the results for socioeconomic factors. Continuous support from the same assigned nurse has benefits for parents. This offers a cost-effective way to improve parental well-being.

'Of course you crash' Parenting a young child with neurodevelopmental difficulties

BackgroundParents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders often experience heightened levels of parenting stress and diminished well-being. However, less is known about the well-being of parents whose children exhibit symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders without yet having a formal diagnosis. AimThis study aims to deepen our understanding of the need for support among families with young children with neurodevelopmental difficulties. Specifically, it explores parents’ perspectives concerning their children, life circumstances, and emotional experiences in parenting. Methods and proceduresQualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten parents of children aged 2.5–5 years, referred to a child psychologist due to reported neurodevelopmental difficulties. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Outcomes and resultsTwo themes, each containing four and three categories, respectively, emerged in the analysis: Parenting our child with neurodevelopmental difficulties is tough in so many ways and Prevent, manage and make up like a Pro. Conclusion and implicationsThe parents express very similar challenges, difficulties and problems as parents of children with diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders. The main difference lies in the lack of accessible support or help for these parents. What this paper addsThis study provides insights into how parents of children with suspected neurodevelopmental difficulties perceive their child and their overall life circumstances. The narratives show the challenges these parents face due to their children's multifaceted difficulties, leading to a need for multi-disciplinary support from professionals. The narratives also illustrate the strong emotions that arise in parenting, which in itself indicates a need for support. The study also provides further support for the importance of parents connecting with others facing similar life circumstances. The families often feel isolated despite the need for increased informal support in terms of more adults being involved with the children.

A Systematic Review of Parental Self-Efficacy in Parents of Autistic Children.

Parental self-efficacy (PSE) assesses a parent's expectations and beliefs about their ability to effectively parent their child. PSE has implications for a parent's well-being, parenting practices, mental health, the parent-child relationship, and child adjustment. While PSE has been extensively examined within the broader parenting literature, the examination of PSE specifically for parents of autistic children has gained increasing attention in recent years. The following systematic review aimed to investigate the role of PSE for parents of autistic children by examining variables that predict PSE or are predicted by PSE in relation to how they align with the broader parenting literature and are unique to autism. Utilizing PRISMA guidelines, peer-reviewed articles were included if (a) participants included caregivers of autistic children, (b) at least one quantitative outcome measure of PSE was utilized, and (c) the role of PSE was examined as an outcome, predictor, or variable in an explanatory model. A total of 53 studies were included in the review and the role of PSE was examined regarding family (e.g., parental characteristics, parent stress, well-being, and support) and child factors (e.g., autism symptomology, problem behaviors, interventions). Several themes emerged including a positive relationship between PSE and support, and a negative relationship between PSE and parenting stress, parent mental health outcomes (e.g., anxiety, depression), and autism symptomology. Findings were compared to the broader parenting and PSE literature to examine how increased considerations and challenges (e.g., child problem behaviors, social impairment, and caregiver strain) associated with raising an autistic child might impact PSE.

Association between parental well-being and preschooler stress measured as hair cortisol concentration: A prospective cohort study.

Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is a valuable biomarker for evaluating chronic stress in preschoolers. However, few studies have explored early life HCC and its associated factors. This prospective cohort study analysed the HCC in children aged 6-48months and its associations with parental HCC as well as positive and negative parental mental health outcomes. We used data from the ongoing Longitudinal Examination Across Prenatal and Postpartum Health in Taiwan (LEAPP-HIT) project, conducted in Taipei between 2020 and 2024. Hair samples were collected from both parents and children in 177 families (91 samples obtained during pregnancy and 86 during the postpartum period). The parents also completed self-reported questionnaires. Multiple linear regression was conducted to analyse the data. We observed a significant positive correlation between parents' and preschoolers' HCC. Furthermore, maternal depression (adjusted beta coefficient [aβ]=0.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.02, 0.16) and perceived stress (aβ=0.15, 95% CI=0.02, 0.26) were positively associated with preschoolers' HCC. By contrast, higher maternal eudaimonia was associated with lower HCC in preschoolers (aβ=-0.11, 95% CI=-0.20, -0.01). For parents, maternal depression, anxiety, and perceived stress were independently associated with an increased HCC during the postnatal period, whereas maternal eudaimonia was negatively associated with HCC. Our results indicate that both mothers and fathers affect children's responses to stress. Assessment of cortisol stress hormone concentrations through hair samples can be a key means of detecting preschoolers' stress levels and enabling early intervention.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Well-being of Parents with Young Children from Under-resourced Backgrounds: a Qualitative Study

Impact of COVID-19 on the Well-being of Parents with Young Children from Under-resourced Backgrounds: a Qualitative Study

PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING IBU YANG MEMILIKI ANAK TUNARUNGU

The various challenges faced by parents of deaf children can cause stress in parents. The stress experienced by parents in raising deaf children harms the parent's ability to care for children so it can have an impact on the psychological well-being of parents, especially mothers of deaf children. The aim of this research is to explore and understand the psychological well-being of mothers in caring for their deaf children. The method used in this research is narrative qualitative. The sampling method was carried out using a purposive sampling method. Data collection was carried out using a semi-structured interview method. The participants in this research were four mothers of deaf children whose ages were between six years old until twelve years old and who attended special schools. The results of this study show that the challenges in caring for a deaf child can have an impact on the mother's psychological well-being. In terms of self-acceptance, mothers accept the condition of their deaf children but tend to be dissatisfied with the care they provide for their children. The mother's attempts to broaden her understanding about deaf children and their care, demonstrate the personal growth component. In terms of positive relations with others, friends in the community are a source of enthusiasm for the mother in raising children. The demand to care for children independently encourages mothers to develop aspects of autonomy and environmental mastery. When it comes to their purpose in life, mothers have the desire to make their children become self-sufficient and able to communicate in the future.

Feasibility of a brief online mindfulness intervention for parents of children with developmental disabilities

Parents of children with developmental disabilities often experience increased levels of distress but have difficulty accessing face-to-face mental health care due to parenting demands. A brief, online mindfulness intervention was designed to improve accessibility for these families. Ten mothers completed a 2-week intervention in addition to pre-post measures of mood and mindfulness. Six participants provided 3-month follow-up data. Immediate reductions in distress and improvements in mindfulness were reported, with gains maintained over time. Despite difficulties with recruitment, satisfaction ratings and user-end data suggested good engagement. Online mindfulness training may help to alleviate distress as well as enhance wellbeing for parents of children with a developmental disability. These promising findings require confirmation with an adequately powered randomised controlled trial.

Music Therapy with Preterm Infants and Their Families after Hospital Discharge: An Integrative Review.

After discharge from a neonatal unit, families of preterm infants may require therapeutic support to address challenges related to their infant/s' development, changed family circumstances, and/or parent wellbeing. This integrative review (IR) sought to examine the impact of music therapy on preterm infants and their families post-hospital discharge. A systematic search encompassing seven databases resulted in 83 citations, with six studies initially meeting the inclusion criteria. A further six studies were evaluated and selected upon their publication during the review process. Each study was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT), followed by the identification of major themes and sub-themes. Our results suggest that music therapy contributed to creating supportive physical and metaphorical environments for preterm infants and their families, in which they could acquire essential skills, tools, and resources for fostering communication and connection with one another. Preterm infants and toddlers may have also enhanced their developmental skills through music therapy sessions post-discharge. Further investigation into the impact of music therapy on preterm infants and their caregivers at different timepoints after hospital discharge is recommended, as well as a comparison of individual and group music therapy outcomes on infant development and parent health. Future research should include a broader spectrum of family members, along with caregivers from diverse family structures and gender identities, reflecting practices already established in some clinical settings.

Interventions for improving the health and socioeconomic well-being of young parents in Africa: a systematic review protocol

IntroductionEarly childbearing is highly prevalent in Africa. Despite the harmful consequences of early childbearing on young people, there is limited documentation of interventions that aim to improve the health and...

“Mental health, bonding, family wellbeing, and family functioning in parents of infants receiving neonatal intensive care”.

AimsTo describe self-reported mental health, bonding with the infant, family wellbeing, and family functioning among mothers and non-birthing parents with children receiving neonatal intensive care and to explore factors associated with bonding with the child, family wellbeing, and family functioning. MethodsCross-sectional study included families from three different units in Sweden. Parents received a questionnaire that included self-reported measures of the study variables. ResultsIn total, 75 mothers and 72 non-birthing parents were included. Nearly 40% of the parents reported anxiety symptoms, whereas depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms were uncommon. Mothers reported more mental health issues than non-birthing parents. In the regression analyses depression was associated with problems with bonding and family wellbeing, no other significant associations were identified. ConclusionSymptoms of anxiety were common but might be a natural and transient reaction. Identifying depression is important to be able to provide targeted family support.

Factors Associated with the Joint Physical Custody of European Children

Understanding patterns of children’s living arrangements (physical custody) in separated families and the factors related to joint physical custody are crucial as custody patterns have significant implications for the well-being of children and parents. In this study we use the 2021 European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions Survey (EU-SILC) to provide new evidence of children’s post-separation living arrangements in Europe. Our sample (n = 7,461) is restricted to children of separated or divorced parents residing in their mother’s household and having another parent residing outside of the household. We analyze both the individual-level socioeconomic, family-and child-related characteristics, and country-level variables to explain variation in children’s joint physical custody arrangements. We find that joint physical custody is higher among boys and children in the age groups 6–10 and 11–15. We also find that children with more socioeconomically advantaged mothers (higher education, employed, higher income, homeowners) are more likely to have joint physical custody. Importantly, controlling for individual-level characteristics, both the legal and the gender equality context shape the prevalence of joint physical custody, suggesting that country-level policies and norms may be important.

Adult child educational attainment and older parents’ psychosocial outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundOlder adults’ psychosocial outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic have been inequitable by socio-economic status (SES). However, studies have focused solely on own SES, ignoring emerging evidence of the relationship between adult child SES and late-life health. We evaluated whether adult child educational attainment – a core marker of SES – is associated with older parents’ psychosocial outcomes during the pandemic.MethodsWe used data from the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) 2004–2018 and the SHARE Corona Surveys (SCS) 2020 and 2021. We included 40,392 respondents ≥ 65 years who had pre-pandemic information on adult child educational attainment and self-reported psychosocial outcomes during the pandemic, including self-assessments of worsened psychosocial outcomes compared to the pre-pandemic period. We used generalized estimating equations with a Poisson distribution and a log link, adjusted for respondent and family-level characteristics, including respondents’ own educational attainment.ResultsOlder adults whose adult children averaged levels of educational attainment at or above (vs. below) their country-specific mean had a lower prevalence of feeling nervous (Prevalence Ratio [PR]: 0.94, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.90, 0.97), sad or depressed (PR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.91, 0.98), and having sleep problems (PR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90, 0.97) during the pandemic. Additionally, higher adult child educational attainment was associated with a lower risk of perceiving worsened feelings of nervousness (PR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.90, 1.01) and worsened sleep problems (PR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.82, 1.01) as compared to the pre-pandemic. In stratified models, protective associations were observed only in countries experiencing “high” levels of COVID-19 intensity at the time of the survey. All of these results are derived from adjusted models.ConclusionsAdult child SES may have “upward” spillover effects on the psychosocial wellbeing of older parents during periods of societal duress like the pandemic.

Enhancing mental well-being for parents through competence based curriculum implementation strategies in public day primary schools in Nairobi County, Kenya

The Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) focuses on developing learners' skills and competencies, ensuring a holistic approach to education. Active parental engagement in their children's education is essential, as it not only enhances the academic success of learners but also significantly contributes to the mental well-being of parents. This study aims to explore strategies that may enhance the mental well-being of parents during CBC implementation in public day schools primary in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study adopted a qualitative design and was grounded in the theory of the Epstein model and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The target population comprised parents of children enrolled in public day primary schools in Nairobi County. A purposive sampling technique was employed to select a sample size of 12 participants, ensuring a representative distribution across different demographic profiles. Data was collected using in-depth interviews and subjected to thematic analysis. The findings revealed that enhancing parental support during CBC implementation requires a multifaceted approach involving workshops, accessible resources, effective communication, and collaboration from schools. Schools should provide training sessions and online materials to guide parents through the CBC framework while maintaining regular updates on curriculum changes. Additionally, parents' associations may foster community support groups and offer mental health resources, which can alleviate stress for parents. The study also emphasized the role of learners in supporting their parents through effective communication and encouraging independence, promoting a collaborative learning environment essential for the success of CBC.

Mindful Parenting and Subjective Well-Being in Parents of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Parenting children with neurodevelopmental disorders presents unique challenges. These challenges can impact the well-being of parents, leading to higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, which ultimately can lower subjective well-being. This study aims to investigate the relationship between mindful parenting and subjective well-being using a correlational quantitative approach. Data were collected through questionnaires measuring mindful parenting and subjective well-being. The participants in this study were 106 parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Data analysis was conducted using the product-moment correlation technique. The results indicated a positive correlation (r = 0.413, p 0.05) between mindful parenting and subjective well-being, suggesting that higher levels of mindful parenting are associated with higher subjective well-being in parents. These findings highlight the potential of mindful parenting interventions to support the well-being of parents in families with children with special needs. Future research should use larger and more representative samples to enhance the generalizability of the findings. The implications of this research include the development of mindful parenting programs and policies to support families facing the challenges of raising children with neurodevelopmental disorders.