Parental Risk Factors Research Articles

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Children: A Narrative Review

Method: This narrative review summarizes research from the years 2019-2024 on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in children. Results: This research suggests that prevalence rates have been highly variable as a function of the stress experienced, for example, post-surgery (15%), following exposure to war (28%) and following head injury (34%). The negative effects have included cognitive dysfunction, aggression and other behavioral difficulties and the comorbidities include sleep disorders, somatic symptoms and depression. Predictors/risk factors have been the primary focus in this literature and have included parent risk factors including exposure to intimate partner violence, sexual and emotional abuse. Sensory modulation and cognitive processes have been implicated as, for example, negative attention bias and subjective threat. Injuries and hospitalizations have been predictors as has been exposure to explosions and earthquakes. The most frequently studied intervention has been cognitive behavioral therapy which has consistently reduced the symptoms of PTSD. Potential underlying biological mechanisms have included parent PTSD, pregnancy inflammation, and autonomic dysregulation including low cortisol and heartrate, although reduced cortical thickness (volume) in several areas of the brain has been the most frequently studied potential mechanism. Discussion: The studies in this review highlight the prevalence and severity of posttraumatic stress disorder in children. However, they have been primarily based on mixed-age child and adolescent samples and the results have varied by the type of stress experienced and the severity of the stress.

Predicting Parental Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms Following their Child's Stay in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Prior to Discharge.

Objective: Develop an inpatient predictive model of parental post-traumatic stress (PTS) following their child's care in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Design: Prospective observational cohort. Setting: Two tertiary care children's hospitals with mixed medical/surgical/cardiac PICUs. Subjects: Parents of patients admitted to the PICU. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Preadmission and admission data from 169 parents of 129 children who completed follow up screening for parental post-traumatic stress symptoms at 3-9 months post PICU discharge were utilized to develop a predictive model estimating the risk of parental PTS 3-9 months after hospital discharge. The parent cohort was predominantly female (63%), partnered (75%), and working (70%). Child median age was 3 years (IQR 0.36-9.04), and more than half had chronic illnesses (56%) or previous ICU admissions (64%). Thirty-five percent (60/169) of parents met criteria for PTS (>9 on the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale-Interview). The machine learning model (XGBoost) predicted subjects with parental PTS with 76.7% accuracy, had a sensitivity of 0.83 (95% CI 0.586, 0.964), a specificity of 0.72 (95% CI 0.506, 0.879), a precision of 0.682 (95% CI 0.451, 0.861) and number needed to evaluate of 1.47 (95% CI 1.16, 1.98). The area under the receiver operating curve was 0.78 (95% CI 0.64, 0.92). The most important predictive pre-admission and admission variables were determined using the Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanation, which identified seven variables used 100% of the time. Composite variables of parental history of mental illness and traumatic experiences were most important. Conclusion: A machine learning model using parent risk factors predicted subsequent PTS at 3-9 months following their child's PICU discharge with an accuracy of 76.7% and number needed to evaluate of 1.47. This performance is sufficient to identify parents who are at risk during hospitalization, making inpatient and acute post admission mitigation initiatives possible.

Differential Association of Preadolescent Risk Factors Across Developmental Patterns of Adolescent Concurrent Gambling Participation and Substance Use.

Early risk factors for gambling participation (GP) and substance use (SU) in adolescents have usually been studied separately, although these disorders were integrated into the same clinical category over a decade ago. This exploratory study aimed to investigate the early individual, parental, familial and social risk factors associated with developmental patterns of adolescent GP and SU in a population-representative cohort (N = 1594, 51.2% boys). Using a person-centered strategy and multiple assessments from age 12 to 17, six developmental patterns describing joint GP and SU courses were revealed. Non-substance users/non-gamblers served as the reference class in an integrated longitudinal-multivariate analysis framework examining 15 distinct risk factors. Results showed that a core of risk factors were common to all trajectory-classes of substance users with or without GP. For a similar level of SU, most of the risk factors associated with non-gambling users also affected their gambling peers. However, additional risk factors were specifically related to GP. Thus, substance users who also gamble were affected by a greater number of risk factors than non-gambling substance users. Findings are consistent with a developmental syndrome of addiction, which posits a shared etiology between different expressions of addiction as well as differences in risk factors that lead to distinct trajectories of addictive behaviors. They highlight the importance of considering both GP and SU for a comprehensive assessment of adolescents' level of risk with regard to addictive behaviors.

Report: Parental Risk Factors and Children Entering Care: Risk and Parent's Sex

Report: Parental Risk Factors and Children Entering Care: Risk and Parent's Sex

Protocol for a randomized controlled trial of an internet-based prevention intervention for young children at-risk for functional abdominal pain

BackgroundChronic pain often clusters in families, where parents and their offspring both experience chronic pain conditions. Young children of parents with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) represent an at-risk group for the development of abdominal pain, disability, and excess health care visits in later childhood. Parental solicitous responses to children’s expressions of discomfort and maternal modeling of their own illness behavior contribute to a greater focus on somatic sensations, leading to illness behaviors in children. This randomized controlled trial will test the effectiveness of an early preventive web-based psychosocial intervention (REACH)[TM] vs. an educational web-based safety comparison condition delivered to parents with IBS to alter parental responses and lead to improved child health and decreased health care costs.MethodsParents with IBS who have children ages 4–7 years are recruited via community-based approaches (e.g., social media advertisements, school electronic distribution, research networks) and health care providers. The target sample is 460 parents randomized to REACH, a web-based social learning and cognitive behavior therapy (SLCBT) intervention or an educational web-based safety comparison condition (EC). Participants will be assessed at baseline, 6-week (immediate post-intervention), 6-month, 12-month, and 18-month follow-up periods (months post-completion of intervention). The primary outcome is change in parental solicitous/protective behaviors. Secondary outcomes include parent risk and protective factors, child health and symptom outcomes, and health care utilization and cost savings.DiscussionThis study adapts a validated, parent-delivered intervention to treat chronic pain in children to a web-based application designed to prevent the development of chronic pain in very young, high-risk children. If successful, this strategy can both prevent adverse sequelae of this condition from developing as well as be widely accessible. Furthermore, the availability of a prevention model for parent training could result in significant short- and long-term health benefits across a broad spectrum of conditions.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05730491. Registered on February 15, 2023.

Genetic and Clinical Factors Influencing Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract in Children: Insights from Prenatal and Postnatal Assessments.

Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) significantly contribute to pediatric morbidity, often necessitating ureterorenal surgery. This study explored the relationship between genetic mutations, renal surgery requirements, and prenatal, postnatal, and parental risk factors in children with CAKUT. A retrospective analysis of 651 children diagnosed with CAKUT included patient demographics, parental risk factors, ultrasound findings, genetic mutations, and surgical incidence. Antenatal ultrasounds showed normal findings in 32.1%, hydronephrosis in 46.9%, and other abnormalities in 21% of cases. Surgical intervention correlated with higher hydronephrosis reduction than non-intervention. Genetic mutations were identified in 5.4% of cases, with 24.6% requiring surgery. Low neonatal birth weight (odds ratio [OR] = 0.98, p < 0.001), advanced maternal age (OR = 1.06, p < 0.001), and postnatal abnormal ultrasound findings (OR = 2.62, p < 0.001) were associated with increased genetic mutation risks. Antenatal hydronephrosis (OR = 3.85, p < 0.001) and postnatal urinary tract infections (OR = 4.85, p < 0.001) increased the likelihood of surgical intervention. Neonatal birth weight, maternal age, and postnatal ultrasound findings were identified as independent risk factors for genetic mutations, while no significant link was found between these genetic factors and the need for surgery. Surgical needs were associated with urinary tract infections and antenatal hydronephrosis, indicating that timely surgical intervention may benefit these patients.

Borderline personality disorder and parenting capacity: Understanding child protection population characteristics

Objective This paper describes an audit of borderline symptoms, risk factors for maltreatment and types of abuse among parents who completed a parenting capacity assessment at a South Australian health-based child protection service. Method A retrospective case note audit within a 28-month period was conducted and included parents ( n = 107) who had completed a Mclean’s screening instrument for borderline personality disorder and/or had a psychiatric review with a formal diagnosis. Parents who had a borderline personality disorder diagnosis or endorsed five or more symptoms were categorised into the ‘high’ borderline symptom group. Rates of parental risk factors for maltreatment and type of abuse were compared between parents with low or high borderline symptoms. Results Forty percent of parents endorsed at least five borderline symptoms on the screening tool. On average, parents high in borderline symptoms had a greater number of parental risk factors. Conclusions These findings highlight the importance of screening for personality pathology among parents presenting to child protection services. Foundational training for staff and making evidence-based interventions available should be considered in such settings.

Assessment of Parental Risk Factors Involved in Orofacial Clefts in Hail, Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background Orofacial clefts are congenital anomalies affecting the development of the oral and facial structures, influenced by genetic and environmental factors. The prevalence of orofacial clefts varies globally, necessitating region-specific studies to understand contributing factors.Orofacial clefts are among the most common congenital defects affecting the head and neck, underscoring the importance of investigating paternal and maternal influences on their development to enhance awareness and understanding of potential contributing factors.Therefore, this research aimed to investigate parental risk factors contributing to the development of orofacial clefts. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Oral and Maxillofacial Department of King Khaled Hospital,Hail, Saudi Arabia, involving 40 parents of children born between 2019 and 2023 with orofacial clefts. Data collection included interviewer-administered questionnaires with parents addressing demographic information, pregnancy details, parental medical history, and postoperative outcomes. Statistical analysis utilized descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Fisher's exact test, and linear regression, with significance defined as p<0.05. Results The study had a gender distribution of 19 males (47.5%) and 21 females (52.5%) among orofacial cleft cases (p<0.75), with cleft palate (13 cases, 32.5%) and cleft lip (11 cases, 27.5%) being the most prevalent anomalies (p<0.05). Maternal supplementation rates were high, with 34 mothers (85%, p<0.05) taking folic acid and 36 mothers (90%, p<0.05) taking iron, yet orofacial clefts incidence persisted. Paternal risk factors such as tobacco use were reported by 19 fathers (47.5%, p<0.05), and familial history of orofacial clefts was noted in nine cases (22.5%, p<0.05). Postoperative outcomes indicated varying levels of functional recovery and satisfaction. Conclusion This study explored the complex origins of orofacial clefts, emphasizing genetic and environmental influences. The findings suggest a potential paternal risk factor. The study highlights the need for further investigation into genetic mechanisms and the development of effective prevention strategies.

The role of threat sensitivity, social affiliation, and left-behind experience in shaping adolescent callous-unemotional and borderline personality traits

Exploring callous-unemotional (CU) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits during adolescence is crucial due to its role in the emergence of personality pathologies. Recent research highlights threat sensitivity and social affiliation as fundamental factors in the etiology of broader interpersonal dysfunctions in personality disorders. Further studies are needed to explore the contributions of these factors to CU and BPD traits, while considering specific parental risk factors within distinct cultural contexts. This study examines the effects of threat sensitivity, social affiliation, and left-behind experience (LBE) on CU and BPD traits in 563 Chinese adolescents. We found that the interaction between threat sensitivity and social affiliation significantly predicts CU traits in adolescents without LBE, where reduced social affiliation amplifies the association between low threat sensitivity and CU traits. Conversely, LBE and a strong need for social affiliation intensify the association between increased threat sensitivity and BPD traits. These findings highlight the specific contributions of dispositional factors to CU and BPD traits, offering insights into their divergent pathways. By elucidating the nuanced interplay of dispositional and parental risk factors, this study enhances our understanding of the predictors of adolescent personality disorders and emphasizes the need for targeted interventions tailored to these dynamics.

Beaten to Blindness: Battered Baby Syndrome

Introduction: A battered child is one who sustains repetitive physical injuries due to non-accidental violence inflicted by a parent or guardian. Child abuse encompasses behaviors exposing the child to various forms of physical or sexual abuse, neglect, or emotional misconduct. Typically, battered child syndrome is diagnosed through a disparity between the history provided by the child's caregivers and the findings of clinical examination. Case details: An 18-month-old girl child was admitted to a tertiary care hospital, presenting with a four-day history of fever, vomiting for two days and a seizure episode. The child had a history of head injury one week ago, resulting in transient unconsciousness. Upon examination, multiple healed and fresh injuries were observed on the face, hands, and right thigh. CT brain revealed hypodensity areas with a mildly displaced fracture of the left frontal bone. Fundus examination identified bilateral multiple intraretinal hemorrhages and papilledema. X-ray showed a fracture of the right proximal tibia. The child required ventilator support during the hospital stay, and subsequently, developed retinal blindness. The child was managed accordingly. Discussion: The classical feature of Battered Baby Syndrome is the discrepancy between the nature of injuries and the history provided, and the delay between the injury and medical attention. The parental risk factors for child abuse are poverty, social isolation, drug addiction, violent environment, family history of abuse, communication skills deficit and the child related risk factors are children with special needs, children with behavior problems, bonding deficit. etc. Conclusion: The current case sheds light on the unfortunate prevalence of this condition within the Indian context, urging point-of-care health providers to stay vigilant and informed about child abuse patterns in the community. It serves as a crucial reminder of the responsibility we all share in safeguarding the well-being of children.

Effective parental strategies against problematic smartphone use among adolescents: A 6-month prospective study

Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU) among adolescents is growing problem worldwide and multiple studies investigated its associated parental risk and protective factors. The available studies, however, typically do not address the multidimensional nature of PSU. They also rely heavily on cross-sectional designs with a small number of potentially contributing variables. This 6-month prospective study examines the relationships between a large range of parental factors with the three known dimensions of PSU: social environment pressure, emotional gain, and addiction-like behaviors. Specifically the study examines whether, and to what extent, the various dimensions of current and future PSU are related to parental support giving, general quality of communication, specific communication about smartphone use, and the four common mediation strategies. The sample comprised 1187 triads of mothers, fathers, and adolescents. The data-analysis pipeline consisted of three consecutive phases: (1) analyses of parental factors at baseline, (2) analyses of parental factors change over 6-months, and (3) interaction analyses between parental factors and the time-period of the study. The pipeline elicited three factors that moderated the change in PSU over time: Communication about smartphones with mothers, parental support giving, and parental co-use. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of the existing literature and the familial, microsystem theoretical framework. Altogether, this prospective study scrutinized key parental factors and strategies that could be utilized by parents for coping with one of the most difficult parenting challenges of the digital era. Further research may build upon these findings to develop designated interventions to reduce PSU.

Setting a research agenda for examining early risk for elevated cognitive disengagement syndrome symptoms using data from the ABCD cohort.

Little research has examined early life risk for symptoms of cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS) despite a well-established literature regarding co-occurring outcomes (e.g., attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). The current study estimated bivariate associations between early life risk factors and CDS in a large and representative sample of U.S. children. We conducted secondary analyses of baseline data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study (N = 8,096 children, 9-10 years old). Birthing parents reported early life risk factors on a developmental history questionnaire, including parental, prenatal, delivery and birth, and developmental milestone information. They also completed the Child Behavior Checklist, which includes a CDS subscale that was dichotomized to estimate the odds of elevated CDS symptoms (i.e., T-score > 70) in children related to risk indices. We observed significantly elevated odds of CDS related to parental risk factors (i.e., unplanned pregnancy, pregnancy awareness after 6 weeks, teenage parenthood), birthing parent illnesses in pregnancy (i.e., severe nausea, proteinuria, pre-eclampsia/toxemia, severe anemia, urinary tract infection), pregnancy complications (i.e., bleeding), prenatal substance exposures (i.e., prescription medication, tobacco, illicit drugs), delivery and birth risk factors (i.e., child blue at delivery, child not breathing, jaundice, incubation after delivery), and late motor and speech milestones in children. Several early-life risk factors were associated with elevated odds of CDS at ages 9-10 years; study design prevents the determination of causality. Further investigation is warranted regarding early life origins of CDS with priority given to risk indices that have upstream commonalities (i.e., that restrict fetal growth, nutrients, and oxygen).

Who develops chronic pain after an acute lower limb injury? A longitudinal study of children and adolescents.

Prevention of chronic pain is a major challenge in this area of clinical practice. To do this, we must be able to understand who is most at risk of developing chronic pain after an injury. In this study, we aimed to identify risk factors of chronic pain onset, disability, and pain interference after a lower limb musculoskeletal injury in children and adolescents between 8 to 16 years of age. We assessed biopsychosocial factors including age, sex, pubertal status, anxiety, depression, fear of pain, pain worry, adverse life events, and sleep in children. We also assessed risk factors in parents including parent anxiety, depression, parent pain catastrophising, and protective behaviours. Logistic and hierarchical linear regressions identified risk factors assessed immediately postinjury for outcomes assessed at 3 months postinjury. Fourteen percent (17/118 children) reported chronic pain 3 months after injury. There were significant between-group differences in children with and without chronic pain at baseline. Children with chronic pain reported higher pain intensity, disability, pain interference, child depression, fear of pain, and catastrophic thinking about their pain. Regressions showed child depression and fear of pain at baseline independently predicted chronic pain onset at 3 months, parent protectiveness predicted child pain interference at 3 months, and child depression, poor sleep, parent anxiety and pain catastrophising predicted disability. Most children recover after a lower limb injury, but a minority develop chronic pain predicted by important psychosocial risk factors, which could be addressed to prevent the onset of treatment-resistant chronic pain and disability.

Modifiable risk factors and risk of myocardial infarction in offspring with parental disease.

Children of patients with early-onset myocardial infarction (MI) are at increased risk, but the importance of concordant versus discordant parent-offspring risk factor profiles on MI risk is largely unknown. We quantified the long-term absolute risk of MI according to shared risk factors in adulthood. We sampled data on familial predisposed offspring and their parents from the Framingham Heart Study. Early MI was defined as a history of parental MI onset before age 55 in men or 65 in women. Individuals were matched 3:1 with non-predisposed offspring. Cardiovascular risk factors included obesity, smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes. We estimated the absolute 20-year incidence of MI using the Aalen-Johansen estimator. At age 40, the 20-year risk of MI varied by cholesterol level (high cholesterol 25.7% [95% confidence interval 11.2%; 40.2%] vs. non-high cholesterol 3.4% [0.5; 6.4]) among predisposed individuals and this difference was greater than in controls (high cholesterol 9.3% [1.5; 17.0] vs. non-high cholesterol 2.5% [1.1; 3.8]). Similar results were observed for prevalent hypertension (26.7% [10.8; 42.5] vs. 4.0% [0.9; 7.1] in predisposed vs. 10.8% [3.2; 18.3] and 2.1% [0.8; 3.4] in controls). Among offspring without risk factors, parental risk factors carried a residual impact on 20-year MI risk in offspring (0% [0; 11.6] for 0-1 parental risk factors versus 3.3% [0; 9.8] for ≥2 parent risk factors at age 40, versus 2.9% [0; 8.4] and 8.5% [0; 19.8] at age 50 years). Children of patients with early-onset MI have low absolute risks of MI in the absence of midlife cardiovascular risk factors, especially if the parent also had a low risk factor burden prior to MI.

Child and Parent Risk and Resilience Factors as Predictors of Long-term Recovery in Youth Undergoing Spinal Fusion Surgery.

Undertreated pediatric postsurgical pain negatively affects health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and functioning and may lead to chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP). Predictors of recovery have been identified but more research is needed, particularly regarding resilience, social factors, and long-term effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate child and parent risk and resilience factors as predictors of long-term postsurgical recovery for adolescents. Participants were patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS), 12 to 18 years old, undergoing spinal fusion, and their parents. Recruitment occurred at the orthopedic units at 4 hospitals in Belgium. Data were collected before surgery (T0), at 3 (T1) and 6 weeks (T2), 6 months (T3), and 1 year (T4) post surgery. Multiple regression models were used to evaluate the predictive effect of pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, psychological flexibility, and pain acceptance on long-term functioning, HRQOL, and pain. The sample comprised 100 adolescents and 61 parents. Pain at T0, T1, and T3 and adolescent pain catastrophizing (T0) predicted health-related quality of life, functioning, and pain at T4 (while pain at T2 predicted HRQOL and pain). Parent pain catastrophizing predicted pain at T4. Adolescent and parental psychological flexibility predicted HRQOL, and parent psychological flexibility also predicted pain at T4. Adolescent acceptance at T1 predicted pain, and acceptance at T2 predicted HRQOL, at T4. The study identified pain and adolescent pain catastrophizing as risk factors, and adolescent and parental psychological flexibility and adolescent pain acceptance as resilience factors, for long-term recovery in youths undergoing spinal fusion. Postsurgical pain management targeting these factors may therefore promote recovery for these adolescents.

Parent-child coregulation as a dynamic system: a commentary on Wass etal. (2024).

In this commentary, I argue that including and operationalizing allostatic processes will become increasingly important in future research on parent-child biobehavioral coregulation. In particular, the conceptualization and modeling of dyadic oscillatory rhythms that align in expected ways with the child's developmental stage and that distinguish typical and atypical development will be useful in future work. Despite the inherent asymmetry characteristic of parent-child relationships, we should not forget to consider the child's effects on the parent within and across time, the additional environmental demands upon parents that shape parent-child coregulation, and variations in parent-child asymmetry by parental risk factors. Studying risk factors that are dyadic in nature, such as child maltreatment, may be particularly informative in gaining a deeper understanding of how parent-child coregulation interfaces with developmental psychopathology. To best model parent-child coregulation as a dynamic system, it will be critical to employ more nonlinear analytic models and better represent the multiple hierarchical domains of coregulation and their interactions, including affect, cognition, behavior, and biology. Finally, in future research, a deeper application of existing dyadic and dynamic theories, as well as the generation of new dyadic developmental theories, will aid us in obtaining a stronger understanding of the developmental function and intervention implications of parent-child biobehavioral coregulation.

The association between parental cardiovascular health status and the risk of obesity in their offspring: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

Background and aimsLittle is known about the association of parental cardiovascular risk factors with the risk of obesity in offspring. We aimed to investigate whether parental ideal cardiovascular health (ICVH) status was associated with the risk of general and central obesity in their young/adult offspring. Methods and resultsOf individuals who participated in the 2012-15 phase of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, 2395 pairs of parent-unmarried offspring aged ≥6 years were selected in this cross-sectional study. General and central obesity were defined based on Iranian BMI percentile reference data for offspring aged ≤18 years. For subjects aged ≥19 years, central obesity was defined based on the introduced cut-off points for Iranian adults. We employed the American Heart Association's 2020 impact goal criteria of ICVH.The mean ± SD age of fathers and mothers were respectively 55.4 ± 9.79 and 48.4 ± 9.88. About 55% of offspring were older than 19 years. Higher adherence to ICVH score in mothers was associated with lower risk of overweight/obesity in female offspring (OR for Q1-Q4: 1, 0.56, 0.57, 0.37, P < 0.05 for all quartiles). Among ICVH components, only ideal BMI status in fathers was observed to be associated with a lower risk of overweight/obesity in their male offspring. The risk of abdominal obesity decreased in female offspring with increasing total ICVH score in mothers. ConclusionHigher adherence of parents to ICVH and its components was positively associated with a lower risk of general and abdominal obesity in their offspring. Our findings demonstrate that maternal-offspring relationship was stronger than paternal-offspring association.

Protocol: Interventions aimed at preventing out-of-home placement of children: A systematic review.

This is the protocol for a Campbell systematic review. The objectives are as follows. The aim of the present review is to synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of interventions for at-risk families aimed at preventing the out-of-home placement of children or increasing the likelihood that children are reunited with their birth families following temporary care arrangements. The review has two objectives: (1) To assess the effectiveness of interventions for at-risk families with children aged between 0 and 17 years old on measures of out-of-home placement and on secondary outcomes. (2) To identify factors that modify intervention effectiveness (e.g., prior placements, parental risk factors such as substance abuse, mental health issues, age, minority status, child risk factors such as disabilities, age, and gender).

Interrelatedness of Family and Parenting Risk Factors for Juvenile Delinquency: A Network Study in U.S. and Dutch Juveniles.

Family interventions that address a diversity of family and parenting factors are often used to prevent juvenile delinquency, but are effective to only a limited extent. This study applied a network approach to risk factors for juvenile delinquency and examined the interrelatedness of specifically family and parenting risk factors in a U.S. and separate Dutch sample of juveniles and their family members. Differences in interrelatedness between these samples were examined as well. Secondary analyses were conducted on data collected in the United States with the Washington State Juvenile Court Assessment (WSJCA) and on data collected in the Netherlands with a Dutch-adapted translation of the WSJCA. Network analyses were performed, separately for the U.S. (N = 13,613) and Dutch (N = 3,630) sample, on seven risk factors that were assessed with a three-point Likert scale ranging from each factor's protective side to a corresponding risk side. In the U.S. sample network, "inadequate parental punishment" and "lack of parental supervision" that both refer to an authoritarian parenting style were the most "central" factors and had the strongest associations with the other risk factors. In the Dutch sample network, "the family not providing opportunities" and "inadequate parental reward" were the most "central" factors, which refer to an authoritative parenting style. The family and parenting factors identified as most central in the networks may be promising to address in family interventions, as it can be expected that both the directly addressed problems and their correlated problems will improve. The current results may inform attempts to strengthen family interventions for juvenile delinquency in the United States and the Netherlands.

Exploring the Prevalence, Risk, and Protective Factors of Parental Burnout among Mothers in Ibadan Metropolis

Parental burnout, characterized by emotional exhaustion, detachment, and a sense of ineffectiveness, has emerged as a significant concern impacting the well-being of mothers worldwide. This study aims to explore the prevalence, risk factors, and protective factors associated with parental burnout among mothers in the Ibadan metropolis, Nigeria. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. A sample of 357 mothers residing in the Ibadan Metropolis were conveniently selected and participated in the study by responding to the nine validated scales and demographic questions which assessed all the variables of interest. The findings reveal a 7% prevalence of parental burnout among mothers in the Ibadan Metropolis. Factors such as personality (neuroticism, conscientiousness and agreeableness), low emotional intelligence, and work status predicted or served as risk factors. On the other hand, resilience, marital satisfaction, and parental self-efficacy were significant protective factors mitigating the risk of burnout among mothers. The study underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions and the importance of raising awareness about burnout, promoting self-care practices, fostering social support networks, and implementing family-friendly policies in workplaces. The findings can guide policymakers, healthcare professionals, and community organizations in developing evidence-based interventions to support and empower mothers, ultimately enhancing their well-being and the overall quality of family life. Keywords: Parental Burnout, Mothers, Risk and Protective factors