Parental Perceptions Research Articles

Healthcare workers' perceptions and acceptance for COVID-19 vaccine for their children aged

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program among adults in India is one of the highly successful vaccination drives globally, but the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among parents for their children is largely unknown. As parents are primary decision-makers for their children, we aimed to assess parents' perceptions and acceptance for COVID-19 vaccination for children in India. To assess parental perceptions and acceptance for COVID-19 vaccination for their children (aged <18 years). A cross-sectional anonymous web-based survey was designed and conducted from November 1 to December 15, 2022. All the healthcare workers of a tertiary care institute in eastern Uttar Pradesh, having a child aged <18 years, constituted the study population and were invited. They were recruited through snowball sampling and were sent the study questionnaire in Google form through email and WhatsApp. Bivariate analysis was performed to determine the predictors of child vaccination acceptance among the parents. A total of 388 healthcare worker parents (HCWPs) having a child <18 years of age completed the survey. The mean age of the parents was 40.28 ± 11.34 years. The majority (96.9%) of them had already received the recommended two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Around 91% of the parents agreed that COVID-19 vaccines are important for children's health, whereas 89% agreed that COVID-19 vaccines are effective. A total of 356 (91.7%) parents were willing to vaccinate their children with a COVID-19 vaccine, of which 91.3% intended to do so as soon as possible. The factors significantly associated with the stated willingness for child vaccination among the participants were younger age (P = 0.008), female gender (P = 0000), currently married status (P = 0.00001), urban residence (P = 0.01), lower monthly income (P = 0.03), absence of any chronic illness (P = 0.0003), history of COVID-19 in the child (P = 0.004), and the child being up-to-date with the routine childhood vaccines (P = 0.01). The HCWPs from eastern Uttar Pradesh, India, have a positive attitude and low vaccine hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccination for children, with around 92% currently willing to vaccinate their children with COVID vaccine. Further longitudinal studies are required to assess the trend of parental acceptance of COVID vaccine.

The Effect of Touch and Massage Techniques Applied to Children on Parental Role Perception and Perceived Stress

Aim: The study examined the effects of tactile and massage techniques on the occupational therapist’s perspective on the role perception and stress levels of parents and the changes in children’s sensory processing. Method: A total of 30 children, (18 females and 12 males), aged 3-6, with normal development, and their parents were included in the study. A diverse community sample of mothers (M=33.6±5.521 years) and their preschool-aged children (M=4.5±1.2 years) participated in the study. The following instruments were employed: Parental Stress Index, Self-Perception Scale for Parenting Role, and Sensory Profile Test. Parents were instructed in a number of touch and massage techniques devised by the Occupational Therapist within the framework of Sensory Integration Theory. Following the 15-minute and 20-session implementation period, the parents were then tested. After the sessions were completed, the tests were repeated. Results: The findings indicated that at the end of the study, there was a decrease in parental stress levels, and an increase in parental role perception and children's sensory processing skills (p &amp;lt;0.05). The study demonstrated that touch and massage techniques can positively impact parent-child interaction. Conclusion: Studies examining the potential enduring effects of positive parental touch on stress levels and parental role perception rarely extend beyond infancy. It is believed that research with a larger sample size on this topic would contribute significantly to the existing literature.

Age, Purpose, and Perception With Regard to the First Dental Visit of Children of Goa State in India.

Early first dental visits (FDVs) are crucial for educating and informing parents about their children's oral health. The age for the FDV is dependent on several factors and data regarding the same is unavailable in Goa state. The aim of the study was to determine the age, purpose, and parental perception with regard to the FDV of children in Goa State. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry for children reporting for their FDV. Data for the study was recorded from validated and pilot-tested questionnaires. Statistical analysis was performed using the STATA (version 17; StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX) software. Categorical variables were summarized using frequencies and percentages. Continuous variables were summarized using means and standard deviations. A total of 544 children were included in the study. The mean age of the FDV was 7.15 ± 2.98 years. Out of the total, 257 (47.24%) children reported with pain. The absence of dental problems was the reason why 485 (89.01%) children and their parents had not visited earlier. Most parents perceived the FDV to be importantbut were unaware of the ideal age for the same. Children in Goa state have delayed FDVs. Although parents recognized the importance of early dental visits and oral health, their knowledge regarding the recommended age was found to be deficient.

The Effects of Parental Role Perception and the Necessity of Parental Education on the Demands for Parental Education in Mothers of Young Children

The Effects of Parental Role Perception and the Necessity of Parental Education on the Demands for Parental Education in Mothers of Young Children

The Perceptions of Polish Professional Foster Carers and Social Workers Toward Parents With Intellectual Disabilities and Their Role in Family Reintegration Efforts

The Perceptions of Polish Professional Foster Carers and Social Workers Toward Parents With Intellectual Disabilities and Their Role in Family Reintegration Efforts

Parental perceptions of an oral health promotion program in early childhood education and care settings: A qualitative study.

Early Childhood Caries is a global health problem. The Bright Smiles Bright Futures (BSBF) program seeks to equip educators, children, and parents with skills and knowledge about oral health promotion habits early in life. The aim of this study was to examine parental perceptions of the BSBF program and identify key facilitators and barriers for its implementation. Twelve mothers of children who participated in the BSBF program in five Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) settings in NSW, Australia were recruited in this qualitative study. Data were collected via focus groups and interviews, transcribed verbatim and coded to categorize for inductive thematic analysis. Five major themes emerged: Promoters of the BSBF oral health program, barriers to the BSBF oral health program implementation and participation, online resources, impact of the BSBF oral health program, and strategies for enhancing the BSBF oral health program. While participants reported that the program encouraged their children's toothbrushing, they found issues with the program's materials, ECEC center attendance, and communication about the oral health program with their children. The program improved message retention, attitudes, routines, and family perceptions toward oral health. Participants recommended oral health literacy, changed delivery formats, increased dental access, and inclusion of interactive elements to enhance the program. The findings from this study provide insight to improve parents' experiences and engagement in oral health promotion. This can help to raise awareness of the importance of child oral health among policymakers, healthcare professionals, and the public to inform public health policy discussions.

Is Inclusive Education a Good “Fit” for ALL? Perceptions of Parents and Educators of ECD Learners with Complex Communication Needs

Providing children with complex communication needs (CCNs) with the right accommodations in a supportive schooling environment from the early childhood development (ECD) stage can significantly improve their developmental and educational outcomes. Inclusive education has been proposed as a possible framework that can promote positive educational outcomes; however, in South Africa, there has not been enough attention paid to inclusive education in ECD especially focusing on children with CCNs. The study therefore explored the perceptions of parents of children with CCNs and early childhood development teachers on inclusive education. Semi-structured interviews and a focus group were conducted with 8 ECD teachers and 8 parents of children with CCNs, who were purposively selected. Data were imported into NVivo 1.5 software and analysed using an inductive thematic analysis approach. Findings from the study revealed the following themes: i. Perceived benefits of inclusive education; ii. Preference for special needs education; iii. Shortcomings of special needs education in addressing the needs of learners with CCNs; iv. Factors informing school placement; v. Communication as a barrier to learning, teaching and socializing; vi. The need for disability conscientization. Although both parents and teachers of learners with CCNs acknowledge the value of inclusive education in facilitating access to education, they have a mistrust of inclusive education because of fear of stigma, discrimination, exclusion, bullying and exclusionary teaching practices. While they preferred special education, they acknowledged the gaps in teacher’s knowledge on communication disorders, training of teachers, teaching aids and assistive devices. Educating a child with a disability is expensive because of other additional costs, especially transportation.

Different concepts of neighborhood safety and child internalizing and externalizing behaviors.

Neighborhood safety is defined inconsistently across epidemiologic studies - a conceptual problem that results in incomparable measurements, hampering the design of health interventions. Using child behavior problems (measured via the Child Behavior Checklist) as the outcome of interest, this study directly compared four measures of neighborhood safety: two of experienced safety and two of perceived safety, with each one measured at family and community levels. These included children's direct experience of harm, parental perceptions, community crime statistics, and community perceptions. In a sample of 3291 ten-year-olds from the Generation R cohort (living in municipal Rotterdam, Netherlands, 2013), all four measures were correlated (χ2 ≥ 9.2, P < 0.002 in pairwise chi-square comparisons), but ultimately identified different levels of risk for behavioral health. Direct experiences of harm, parental perceptions, and community crime statistics were all associated with increased child internalizing behaviors (β = 3.12, β = 2.10, and β = 1.77, respectively), while only experiences of harm and parental perceptions were associated with increased externalizing behaviors (β = 2.75 and β = 1.31, respectively). These results provide novel evidence that the conceptual distinctions underlying different measures of neighborhood safety are meaningful for child mental health and should be considered in intervention design.

Turkish Translation and Cultural Adaptation of the Scale of Parental Perception of Children’s Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Validity and Reliability Study

Turkish Translation and Cultural Adaptation of the Scale of Parental Perception of Children’s Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Validity and Reliability Study

Parent-adolescent discrepancies in perceived parental warmth and authoritarian parenting and early adolescents’ depressive symptoms

This study investigated discrepancies in parents’ and early adolescents’ perceptions of parental warmth and authoritarian parenting about early adolescents’ depressive symptoms, including the mediating effect of parent-adolescent communication. The sample comprised of 2,443 Chinese early adolescents (Mage = 12.64 years, SD=0.23 years; 50.6 % boys) and their parents. Data analysis used latent difference score modeling and structural equation modeling. Parents perceived more parental warmth and authoritarian parenting than did adolescents. Perceived discrepancies in parental warmth and authoritarian parenting between parents and adolescents predicted early adolescent depressive symptoms via the mediating role of parent-adolescent communication. The findings provide new perspectives on interventions for adolescent depressive symptoms.

Clinical and Sociodemographic Predictors of Parental Perceptions and Confidence in Managing Child Stuttering: a Cross-Sectional Study

Clinical and Sociodemographic Predictors of Parental Perceptions and Confidence in Managing Child Stuttering: a Cross-Sectional Study

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.

Differences in parental behaviour, emotions, and cognitions between children's eating profiles

A variety of parent psychological characteristics (e.g., wellbeing) have been related to children's eating behaviour. However, parent-child feeding interactions are reciprocal and complex, including relationships between parental cognitions, emotions, as well as the influence of children's varying appetitive traits. Using a person-centred approach, children's appetitive traits can be clustered into meaningful eating profiles. To date, no research has examined whether parental behaviours, emotions, and cognitions differ depending on a child's eating profile. Hence, this study recruited parents/primary caregivers from the APPETItE project, whose child had previously been identified as having an avoidant, typical, happy, or avid eating profile. Parents/primary caregivers of children (3–6 years; N = 632) completed online questionnaires examining broader parenting behaviour (parenting styles), parental emotions (stress, wellbeing), and parental cognitions (goals, self-efficacy, time and energy for meal planning and preparation, and perceptions about children's body size). Findings showed significant differences in parent responses to the questionnaires based on children's eating profiles. Parents of children with a happy eating profile reported better psychological wellbeing and greater parenting time and energy for meal planning and preparation, as well as being less likely to report goals of avoiding mealtime stress and conflict. In contrast, parents of children with an avoidant eating profile reported poorer psychological wellbeing. Children with an avid eating profile were perceived by parents as having a higher body weight, whereas children with an avoidant eating profile were perceived as having a lower body weight. Overall, these findings demonstrate that differences in parental characteristics and perceptions exist between children's eating profiles and thus should be considered in the development of tailored interventions to support children's healthy eating.

Parental Perception of the Impact of Television Advertisements on Children’s Buying Behavior: A Case of Kathmandu Valley

This study examines the parental perception of the impact of television advertisements on children’s buying behavior in Kathmandu Valley. Buying behaviour is the dependable variable. The independent variables are television advertisement, marketing, child responsiveness, price, taste and parent potential. The primary source of data is used to assess the opinions of the respondents regarding the parental perception of the impact of television advertisements on children’s buying behavior in Kathmandu Valley. The study is based on primary data of 130 respondents. To achieve the purpose of the study, structured questionnaire is prepared. The correlation coefficients and regression models are estimated to test the significance and importance of television advertisement, marketing, child responsiveness, price, taste and parent potential on children’s buying behavior in Kathmandu Valley. The study showed that television advertisement has a positive impact on buying behaviour. It indicates that creative and innovative television advertisement impulse children buying behavior. Similarly, marketing has a positive impact on buying behaviour. This implies that effective marketing concerning children’s stimulates children buying behavior. Likewise, child responsiveness has a positive impact on buying behaviour. It indicates that child responsiveness content on the advertisement impulse children buying behavior. Similarly, parental potential has a positive impact on buying behaviour indicating that parental potential stimulates children buying behavior. Moreover, price has a positive impact on buying behaviour. It indicates that higher price for the product stimulates children buying behavior. Similarly, taste has a positive impact on the buying behavior. It shows that the good taste attracts children to buy products. The regression result also that beta coefficients are significant for television advertisement, price, parental potential and taste at one percent level of significance.

EXPLORING PARENTAL PERSPECTIVES: THE IMPACT OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES ON INCLUSIVE EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

This study investigates parental attitudes towards the efficacy of assistive technologies in facilitating inclusive education for children with disabilities within mainstream educational settings. The research aims to address the pressing need for insights into parental perceptions regarding the utilization of assistive technologies to support their children's learning experiences in inclusive classrooms. A questionnaire-based methodology was employed to gather comprehensive data from parents of children with disabilities enrolled in mainstream schools. The survey encompassed inquiries about parents' familiarity with assistive technologies, their perceived effectiveness, challenges encountered, and overall satisfaction with their child's educational journey within inclusive settings. The results of the research reveal multifaceted insights into parental attitudes towards assistive technologies. Findings indicate a generally positive outlook among parents, acknowledging the potential of these technologies to enhance their child's educational outcomes and promote inclusion. However, notable challenges such as accessibility, affordability, and adequate training emerge as significant barriers hindering the optimal utilization of assistive technologies. The discussion delves into the implications of the findings for policymakers, educators, and practitioners, emphasizing the necessity for targeted interventions to address existing barriers and enhance the accessibility and efficacy of assistive technologies in inclusive education. Moreover, the study underscores the importance of fostering partnerships between parents and educational institutions to ensure the holistic support and empowerment of children with disabilities within mainstream educational settings. This collaborative approach is essential for creating an inclusive educational environment that meets the diverse needs of all students. The study concludes that while parents recognize the benefits of assistive technologies, overcoming the existing challenges requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders involved. By addressing issues of accessibility, affordability, and training, the potential of assistive technologies can be fully realized, thereby improving educational outcomes for children with disabilities.

Social and emotional impact of anterior drooling in school-age children and young people with neurodevelopmental disabilities

PurposeAnterior drooling is a common comorbidity in children and young people (CYP) with neurodevelopmental disabilities. This study aimed to assess the social and emotional impact of drooling in CYP with a developmental age (DA) of 6 years and older, in whom this impact may differ from those with a lower DA due to their developing sense of self and awareness of their position within social groups.MethodsQuestionnaire data collected for routine clinical care were used to assess parental perceptions of the impact of drooling on (1) social interaction; (2) satisfaction with social interaction, appearance, family relations and life in general and (3) the way CYP expressed feelings on appearance, acceptance by peers and acceptance by adults. Fisher’s exact tests and Mann–Whitney U tests were applied to identify associations between clinical characteristics and the social and emotional impact of drooling.ResultsSeventy-nine CYP with an estimated DA ≥ 6 years were included. The majority experienced frequent to constant (83%) and profuse (61%) drooling. Drooling frequently compromised social interaction with peers (49%) and adults (28%), and cognitive abilities were underestimated in 40%. Dissatisfaction with physical appearance (25%) related to drooling was noted. One-fifth of CYP reportedly expressed negative feelings on acceptance by peers related to drooling.Conclusions: These findings underscore the substantial impact of drooling on CYP with a DA of 6 years and older, primarily through avoidance by peers and underestimated cognitive abilities, emphasizing that recognizing and addressing these social-emotional consequences should be integral to clinical care.What is Known:• Anterior drooling is common among children and youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities.What is New:• There seems to be a heightened prevalence of impaired social interaction with peers and underestimation of cognitive abilities due to drooling among children with a developmental age of at least 6 years compared to previous studies with more heterogeneous populations.• The impact of drooling can extend to domains that affect self-esteem, although this may not be fully captured with standardized questions, requiring clinicians to address these consequences in a way that is tailored to the child’s experiences.

Daily smartphone use predicts parent depressive symptoms, but parents' perceptions of responsiveness to their child moderate this effect.

Smartphone use during caregiving has become increasingly common, especially around infants and very young children, and this use around young children has been linked with lower quality and quantity of parent-child interaction, with potential implications for child behavior, and parent-child attachment. To understand drivers and consequences of parent phone use, we were interested in the daily associations between parent phone use and depressed mood, as well as the potential for parent perceptions of their responsiveness toward their infant to alter the association between parent phone use and mood. In the present study, we explored associations between day-to-day changes in parent smartphone use (objectively-measured via passive sensing) around their infant, depressed mood, and parent perceptions of their responsiveness to their infants among a sample of 264 parents across eight days. We utilized multilevel modeling to examine these within-person daily associations. Objectively-measured parent smartphone use during time around their infant was significantly associated with depressed mood on a daily basis. Interestingly, this was not true on days when parents perceived themselves to be more responsive to their infant. These results suggest that parent judgements and perceptions of their parenting behavior may impact the potential link between parent phone use and parent mood. This is the first study utilizing intensive daily data to examine how parent perceptions may alter the felt effects of phone use on their parenting. Future work examining potential impacts of smartphone use on parenting should consider the effects of both actual use and perceptions about that use.

Parental views on prospective consent: Experience from a pilot randomised trial recruiting extremely preterm infants during the perinatal period.

To explore parental perceptions of the consenting process and understanding of the study in a pilot randomised controlled trial wherein extremely premature infants (<29 weeks' gestation) were recruited either antenatally or by 4 h of life. We prospectively surveyed parents who had consented, declined consent or were eligible infants in the Positioning Preterm Infants for Neuroprotection study, a low-risk intervention study in the first 72 h of life. Structured interview questions explored the process and acceptability of the consenting approach by the parents and their knowledge of the study. Additional comments made by the parents were transcribed verbatim. Sixty-two parents participated in the surveys; of those, 41 had provided their consent, 8 declined consent and 13 were parents of missed eligible infants. Overall, most parents reported they understood the study well before providing their consent and approaching them for consenting did not create a burden for them. A verbal explanation of the study by the study team, especially by the medical practitioners, was viewed as beneficial. Where consent was obtained in the birthing unit (imminent births and within 4 h of birthing), it was suggested that the 4-h period for obtaining post-natal consent may be too short. A deferred consent with a follow-up opportunity for obtaining informed consent could be a suitable alternative. Parents found the consenting process acceptable and indicated they had sufficient understanding of the study to provide an informed consent. Deferred consent should be explored for future, low-risk intervention studies as an alternative to prospective consent where extremely preterm infants need to be recruited in the immediate neonatal period.

Parental perceptions of neighborhood safety and preschool children's outdoor play: An exploration of sex and safety type differences

Despite the growing evidence on the influence of neighborhood safety on physical activity, few studies have specifically focused on preschool-aged children and differentiated the various domains of neighborhood safety. This study investigates the relationship between parental perceptions of neighborhood safety and preschool children's time spent outdoors and explores potential sex differences in this relationship. This study analyzed nationally representative data from 1656 Korean children (848 boys and 808 girls) aged 3, 5, 6 years collected over the course of three waves of the Panel Study on Korean Children (PSKC). Outdoor playtime was measured by maternal reports of the time their children spent playing outdoors on a typical weekday. Parental perceptions of neighborhood safety were assessed using two items that inquired about neighborhood safety in terms of crime and accidents, respectively. Fixed effects estimates revealed that parental perceptions of social safety were associated with an increase in children's outdoor physical activity (b = 3.778, p < 0.05), whereas perceptions of physical safety were not. Sex-stratified models showed that the association between parental perceptions of social safety and children's outdoor play was driven largely by boys (b = 8.498, p < 0.001), with no association observed for girls. The findings of this study underscore the importance of addressing the social safety of neighborhood environments to promote outdoor play in preschool children. Moreover, sex differences should be considered when developing interventions aimed at increasing physical activity among young children.

Quality of life of children and young adults with Down syndrome from caregivers' perspective: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Down syndrome (DS) negatively impacts the well-being of affected individuals. This study aimed to summarise the evidence on quality of life (QOL) of children and young adults with DS using quantitative measures from caregivers' perspective and identify factors that affected their QOL. Database search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and CINAHL on 24 April 2024. Meta-analysis using random effects model was conducted where feasible. All studies underwent qualitative synthesis. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023413532). Seventeen studies involving 3038 children with DS using various QOL measures were included: Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) (8 studies), KIDSCREEN (4 studies), KidsLife (2 studies), The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research Academic Medical Center Children's QOL (2 studies) and Personal Outcome Scale (1 study). Meta-analysis on PedsQL studies compared scores between children with DS and typically developing (TD) children. Total scale score was lower in children with DS (mean 70.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] 64.31-76.24) compared to TD children (mean 88.17, 95% CI 80.50-95.83). All subdomains of PedsQL were also lower in children with DS. Within the domain of psychosocial health, children with DS had statistically significant lower social functioning (standardised mean difference -1.40, 95% CI -2.27 to -0.53) and school functioning (standardised mean difference -1.09, 95% CI -1.55 to -0.62) scores, but similar emotional functioning scores. Qualitative synthesis revealed poorer subdomain QOL compared to TD children, especially in social functioning and cognitive functioning. QOL worsened during adolescent years. Family variables (parental education and occupation) did not affect parental perception of children's QOL. Children with DS who had higher intelligent quotient had better QOL. Children with DS have lower caregiver-reported QOL than TD children, especially in social functioning and school functioning subdomains.