Parental Predictors Research Articles

Parental experience with childhood COVID-19 vaccines and factors associated with parental hesitancy despite being vaccinated: findings of a cross-sectional analysis from Pakistan and implications for the future

ObjectivesThis study examined parental experiences with COVID-19 vaccination and factors contributing to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (CVH) among them to help guide future policy initiatives.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingLahore, the second largest metropolis in...

Dual trajectories of supportive coparenting and father involvement: Parental predictors and influences

Dual trajectories of supportive coparenting and father involvement: Parental predictors and influences

Parent-reported Areas of Greatest Challenge for their ADHD and/or Autistic Children

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to understand how parents describe the most challenging behaviors exhibited by their children diagnosed with autism and/or ADHD, how those behaviours impact their family, and whether challenges are directly related to the core characteristics of these conditions. Methods A total of 258 New Zealand parents of children diagnosed with autism (n = 98), ADHD (n = 85), or both conditions (n = 75) answered an open-ended question about what child behaviour(s) provide the most challenge for their child/family’s life. Responses were coded into 13 domains. Results The areas of greatest challenge fitted with the core characteristics of the respective diagnoses, but the co-occurring group favoured greater challenges in the autism domain. Emotional dysregulation challenges were substantial across all three groups. A significant predictor of parents reporting challenges in the autism and internalising domain was a higher age. Conclusions These results have the potential to inform more targeted supports for children and families by considering what is important to parents.

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

The main aim of the current study was to identify and analyze the most significant clinical and sociodemographic predictors of parents' perceptions regarding their child's stuttering. 139 parents, with at least one child who stutters, completed both the Persian version of the Palin Parent Rating Scale (P-Palin PRS) and a sociodemographic and clinical checklist. To investigate the relationships between scores on the Palin PRS factors and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, we conducted univariable analyses using Pearson correlation coefficients, independent t-tests, and one-way ANOVA. The study analyzed the P-Palin PRS factors: Impact of Stuttering on the Child, Severity of Stuttering and Impact on the Parents, and Parent's Knowledge and Confidence in Managing it. Mean scores were 5.37, 3.87, and 5.42, respectively, with correlations ranging from 0.371 to 0.507. Higher stutter severity negatively correlated with Impact on the Child (r=-0.364, P < 0.001). History of speech therapy (ST) failure and family history of speech and language disorders (SLDs) showed lower Impact scores (P = 0.053 and P = 0.057). Severity of Stuttering and Impact on the Parents negatively correlated with stutter severity (r=-0.546, P < 0.001) and positively with parents' ages. Parent's Knowledge and Confidence correlated negatively with stutter severity (r=-0.242, P = 0.004) and was lower in those with family history of SLDs (P = 0.008). The high stutter severity, ST failure, and family history of SLDs were associated with lower scores across all PRS factors. In conclusion current study identified key predictors influencing parents' perceptions of their child's stuttering, including stutter severity, speech therapy history, and family background.

The impact of race on predictors of parents’ advice to children regarding Miranda waivers.

The impact of race on predictors of parents’ advice to children regarding Miranda waivers.

Adult Child Financial Disadvantage and the Cognitive Trajectories Among Older Parents in the United States.

Adult child socioeconomic status (SES) has been identified as a predictor of older parents' cognitive aging. However, studies have primarily relied on educational attainment as the sole measure of adult child SES. We evaluated the relationship between adult children's financial disadvantage and cognitive outcomes of older parents in the United States. We used data from U.S. Health and Retirement Study (2000-2014, n = 15,053 respondents ≥51 years with at least 1 adult child). Adult child financial disadvantage was measured with 3 indicators of extremely low income, unemployment, and lack of homeownership. We used linear mixed models to estimate the association between adult child financial disadvantage and the rate of decline in verbal memory scores, controlling for respondents' sociodemographic characteristics. Having at least 1 adult child (vs no adult children) with extremely low income was found to be associated with lower verbal memory (b = -0.041, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.043, -0.039) at baseline. There was a small but significant association with the rate of decline in verbal memory z-scores (b = 0.004, 95% CI: 0.000, 0.008) and some evidence of heterogeneity by parent gender, marital status, and SES. Offspring financial disadvantage may be influential for older parents' initial level of memory function, although evidence of associations with memory decline was weak. Public policy interventions aimed at improving the economic conditions of adult children may indirectly benefit the cognitive performance of disadvantaged parents in theirlater life.

Effects of Parental Predictors on Postpartum Depression.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is highly prevalent and plagues a significant proportion of parents. Postpartum depression also exerts various negative consequences on infant development and parent-infant relationships. Social support is identified as an important factor influencing many parental predictors, and may affect the development of PPD. This study aimed to investigate how perceived social support can indirectly influence PPD symptoms in parents at 6 months postpartum by influencing postpartum anxiety, parental satisfaction, and parental self-efficacy (PSE). A secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial was used with a cross-sectional exploratory design. A total of 400 Singaporean parents (200 couples) were included, and structural equation modeling was used to analyze the relationships between PPD and potential predictors. Findings revealed a less adequate fit between the hypothesized model and the data collected. Social support was found to be a significant predictor of postpartum anxiety, PSE, and parental satisfaction. Postpartum anxiety was a significant predictor of PPD, but PSE and parental satisfaction were not. This study provides an overview of how different parental predictors may be associated with PPD among Asian parents. Postpartum anxiety significantly predicted PPD, but social support had negative effects on postpartum anxiety, parenting satisfaction, and PSE. The findings provide further insight into how parents at risk of PPD can be identified and demonstrated how social support might negatively impact parental outcomes. More qualitative research with Asian parents is needed to further explain these findings and inform the development of future interventions.

Vaccination hesitancy: Applying the protection motivation theory on parents’ information behavior

Objectives This research study investigates COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among parents in charge of vaccinating their adolescents. The study employs the threat and coping appraisals of the Protection Motivation Theory as a framework to examine parents’ information behavior toward vaccinating their adolescents. Methods A quantitative research design using online questionnaires was conducted to collect data from Jordanian parents of adolescents aged 12 to 18 years old. Using convenience sampling, 1000 questionnaires with closed-ended and Likert scale questions were distributed electronically, and only 467 response were retrieved. The study used Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze data from 421 responses. Results The study found that the information behavior of parents in dealing with perceived vulnerability and response cost of the virus were significant predictors of parents’ vaccination hesitancy. The study has also found that making a vaccination decision based on the available information, response efficacy, and self-efficacy were not significant predictors of vaccination hesitancy. Surprisingly, having information on the perceived severity of the virus was found to increase vaccination hesitancy. Conclusion The study provides useful demographic information about the targeted population and suggests that vaccination promotion strategies should focus on providing accurate information about vaccine-related vulnerabilities and lowering response costs. The findings add to the existing literature on vaccination apprehension and can help guide future research and policy decisions.

The Mediating Effect of Emotion Regulation Between Intensive Parenting Attitudes and Parental Anger

Previous research has yielded mixed results about the relationships between intensive parenting attitudes and parental emotions. Further, very few studies have investigated the indirect effects of intensive parenting attitudes on parental anger through parental emotion regulation. In this study, we aim to understand the direct and indirect relationships among these variables, particularly focusing on essentialism and fulfillment and orientation to a child's emotions and emotional lack of control. Results from 654 parents with diverse racial backgrounds indicated that essentialism and fulfillment were significant predictors of parents' use of two dimensions of emotion regulation and that both dimensions were significant predictors of parental anger expression. While emotional lack of control was a significant predictor of parental anger experience, orientation was not. Mediation analyses showed that orientation was a positive mediating emotion regulation between essentialism and anger expression but a negative mediating emotion regulation between fulfillment and anger expression. Emotional lack of control was a positive mediating emotion regulation between essentialism and two anger dimensions but a negative mediating emotion regulation between fulfillment and two anger dimensions. We discussed all these results under the counseling context of helping parents regulate their anger.

Linking child adjustment difficulties with mother's maladaptive parental behavior: The mediating roles of parental cognitions and parenting stress.

Child abuse is prevalent worldwide, with most of the burden in developing countries. To reduce and prevent child abuse occurrence, many efforts are directed toward reducing maladaptive parental behaviors (MPBs), a predictor of parents' risk of engaging in child abusive behaviors. MPBs have been associated with child (e.g., behavioral difficulties) and parent characteristics (e.g., parenting stress and parental cognitions), although little research tested for mediational pathways. This study aimed to test the pathways through which child and parent characteristics are linked to MPB. Consistent with the social information processing model of parenting, we hypothesized that child behavioral difficulties would exert an indirect influence on MPB through parenting stress and that parenting stress will exert a direct and indirect effect on MPB through parental cognitions (i.e., expectations, attitudes, and attributions). This study used data from 243 mothers of children aged between 2 and 9 years in Romania. Two-stage structural equation modeling was employed to test the hypothesized model. Results support the role of child behavior, parenting stress, and parental cognitions in predicting MPB (R2 = 0.69). Significant indirect effects were found from child behavior to MPB via parenting stress and parental cognitions. Direct effects from parenting stress and parental cognitions to MPB were significant. Findings show that parenting stress and parental cognitions are important mechanisms through which child behavioral difficulties influence maladaptive parental behavior, underscoring the need to focus on these mechanisms when assessing or intervening with families at risk for child abuse.

Racial-ethnic socialization among Asian American families with preadolescent children.

The COVID-19 pandemic and resurgence of overt anti-Asian racism have prompted many Asian American parents to grapple with ways to discuss race and ethnicity with their children. Racial-ethnic socialization (RES) has been shown to have promotive and protective influences on Asian American adolescents' adjustment but remains understudied among Asian American families with younger children. This study examined parent (i.e., racial-ethnic identity [REI], experiences of discrimination) predictors of RES among Asian American families with preadolescent-aged children and moderation by parental generational status. We surveyed a sample of 404 Asian American parents (Mage = 38.4, SD = 7.0; 66% female) with 6- to 12-year-olds (Mage = 8.9, SD = 2.0; 56% boys). Findings revealed that parents with higher levels of REI centrality were more likely to report engaging in cultural maintenance practices and those with higher levels of REI private regard were less likely to minimize race. Parents' experiences of racial discrimination were also associated with more frequent cultural maintenance practices and discussions of anti-Asian discrimination. Tests for moderation by parental generational status indicated that the positive association between experiences of racial discrimination and discussions of anti-Asian discrimination was stronger among first-generation than second+ generation parents. Findings highlight that among Asian American parents of preadolescent-aged children, RES approaches and practices are nuanced and differentially responsive to parents' views of their own REI, their experiences of racial discrimination, and by generational status. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Predicting Reading Fluency Growth from Grade 2 to Age 23 with Parental and Child Factors

ABSTRACT Purpose Reading fluency establishes the basis for the strong literacy skills needed for academic success. We aim to trace how reading fluency develops from childhood to adulthood and identify factors that influence this development. Method In this study, 200 families were followed. All participating children (N = 200, 47% female) were ethnic Finns and spoke Finnish as their native language. The dataset included children’s reading fluency assessments (in Grades 2, 3, and 8 and at age 23), their self-reports, and parental questionnaires. For data analysis, growth curve models that included cognitive, motivational, and parental predictors were constructed. Results Significant variations in both developmental rates and adult outcomes of reading fluency were found. The developmental rate was predicted by rapid automatized naming (RAN), letter knowledge, the formal home literacy environment (HLE) (measured in kindergarten) and reading motivation (measured in elementary school). Adult outcome (fluency at age 23) was predicted by RAN, letter knowledge, formal HLE, and parental dyslexia. Further, those who had parents with resolving reading difficulties were more likely to follow a resolving trajectory themselves compared with those whose parents had persistent reading difficulties. Conclusion Our findings offer novel insights into how reading fluency develops into adulthood and identify key areas for future research to better understand the mechanisms behind reading fluency development.

Predictors of White parents' racial socialization: Links to attributions for racial inequalities and views of White privilege

AbstractTo explore predictors of variations in White parents’ racial socialization messages, we collected data on racial socialization practices, attributions for racial inequalities, and views about White privilege from White parents of White children between the ages of 10 and 14 (N = 194). After controlling for education and political ideology, endorsement of external attributions for racial inequality was related to sending more frequent messages about awareness of racism and White privilege, whereas endorsement of internal attributions was related to sending more frequent messages about colorblindness and preparation for bias. Further, beliefs about White privilege were associated with socialization regarding awareness of racism and acknowledgment of White privilege and negatively related to colorblind and preparation for bias messages. Results highlight the ways in which White parents’ racial socialization approaches reflect underlying views of race and racism.

Research on factors influencing Chinese parents' support for death education: a cross-sectional survey.

This study aims to explore the factors influencing Chinese parents' attitudes toward death education. Given the current lack of such education in China, this research is particularly significant. Death education is vital for shaping the values of young people and alleviating mental health issues, such as depression and suicidal tendencies. By identifying these influencing factors, this study seeks to provide guidance for policymakers and educators in promoting the development and widespread adoption of death education. To do so, a national cross-sectional quota sample of 12,435 Chinese parents was used. Borrowing from social-ecological theory, the researchers carried out multiple stepwise regression analyses to examine the individual, family, and social-level factors that shape the supportive attitudes of Chinese parents toward death education. The findings revealed that at the individual level, parent (β = 0.04, p < 0.001), education level (β = 0.07, p < 0.001), and religious belief (β = -0.02, p < 0.05) were significant predictors of Chinese parents' support for death education. Meanwhile, at the family and social level, average monthly household income (β = 0.07, p < 0.001), family health (β = 0.03, p < 0.05), family communication (β = 0.02, p < 0.05), social support (β = 0.15, p < 0.001), neighborhood relations (β = 0.11, p < 0.001), and social network size (β = 0.05, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of Chinese parents' supportive attitudes toward death education. Based on these findings, it is suggested that the relevant development, planning, publicity, and public welfare groups and government departments should promote death education, provide more social support, and encourage neighborhood harmony. As higher education and average monthly household income were found to significantly impact the support, the government should improve access to higher education and actively work to increase residents' income to facilitate the development of death education.

The role of internet parenting on internet addiction among adolescents

Various age groups have used the internet, including adolescents. Uncontrolled internet use can lead to psychological problems, such as internet addiction. One of the factors causing internet addiction is the lack of parental mediation in adolescents' internet activities, but some previous studies related to internet parenting showed inconsistent results. This study aims to determine the effect of internet parenting on internet addiction among junior high school adolescents in Yogyakarta. It is a quantitative survey study using the Indonesian version of the Internet Addiction Test scale (a=0.888) and the Internet Parenting scale (a=0.921). The data were collected from 171 junior high school students in Yogyakarta (ages 12-17) by online questionnaire and analyzed using linear regression in JASP 0.17.1. The research findings show an insignificant predictor of internet parenting to internet addiction (F=0.045, P=0.833 0.05). This shows that although internet parenting may have a role in preventing internet addiction in adolescents, other factors such as peer influence should also be considered in explaining the phenomenon of internet addiction among junior high school adolescents in Yogyakarta.

“I shall not poison my child with your human experiment”: Investigating predictors of parents’ hesitancy about vaccinating younger children (

BackgroundSince the approval of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines for younger children (those under the age of 12), uptake has been low. Despite widespread vaccination among older children and adults, these trends may undermine public health efforts to manage future waves of SARS-CoV-2 or spill over into other childhood vaccines. The objectives of this study were to understand parents’ intentions to vaccinate their children (under age 12) against SARS-CoV-2, and to explore reasons for and against SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. MethodsA representative sample of parents of school-aged children (ages 3–11 years) from Canada’s four largest provinces were invited in June 2021 to complete a survey on the impact of COVID-19 on schooling. The survey included specific questions on parents’ intentions to vaccinate their child(ren) against SARS-CoV-2. Multinomial regression models were run to estimate associations between demographic factors, political affiliation and voting, concerns about individual / family health and vaccination intention. ResultsA total of 74.0 % of parents (n = 288) intended to vaccinate their children with the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, 18.3 % (n = 71) did not intend to vaccinate and 7.7 % (n = 30) were unsure. The strongest predictor of parental hesitancy was whether a parent had themselves been vaccinated. Other factors including past voting behaviour, dissatisfaction with the government’s response to the pandemic, and relatively less concern about contracting SARS-CoV-2 were also correlated with hesitancy. Parents of older children were more likely to indicate plans to vaccinate their child(ren). Analysis of the reasons for hesitancy showed parents are concerned about the safety and side effects of the vaccine, as well as with processes of testing and approval. InterpretationA considerable proportion of Canadian parents of younger school-aged children (ages 3–11) were unsure and/or hesitant about vaccinating their children against SARS-CoV-2. As well, a much larger proportion who are not necessarily hesitant have also not had their children vaccinated. Given the evolving nature of SARS-CoV-2, including the continued emergence of new variants, reaching younger children will be important for population health. Health providers should continue to work with government institutions to ensure clear communication regarding the safety, efficacy, and importance of child vaccines for reaching public health goals.

Association Between Children's and Parents' Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Lagged Analysis.

COVID-19 caused closures of movement supporting environments such as gyms and schools in Canada. This study evaluated the association between Ontario parents' and children's physical activity levels across time during COVID-19, controlling for variables that were identified as significant predictors of children's and parents' physical activity (e.g.,children's age, parents' employment status). Parents (n = 243; mean age = 38.8y) of children aged 12 and under (n = 408; mean age = 6.3y) living in Ontario, Canada completed 2 online surveys, the first between August and December 2020 and the second between August and December 2021. At baseline, parents were asked to recall prepandemic physical activity levels. To determine the association between parent and child physical activity during COVID-19, a cross-lagged model was estimated to determine the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between parents' and children's physical activity across time. Bivariate associations revealed that parents' and children's physical activity levels were significantly related during lockdown and postlockdown but not prelockdown. The autoregressive paths from prelockdown to during lockdown were significant for children (β = 0.53, P < .001) and parents (β = 1.058, P < .001) as were the autoregressive paths from during lockdown to postlockdown for children (β = 0.61, P < .001) and parents (β = 0.48, P < .001). In fully adjusted models, the cross-lagged association between parents' physical activity prelockdowns was significantly positively associated with their children's physical activity during lockdowns (β = 0.19, P = .013). Resources are needed to ensure that children and parents are obtaining sufficient levels of physical activity, particularly during a pandemic.

The predictive roles of parental stress and intolerance of uncertainty on psychological well-being of parents with a newborn in neonatal intensive care unit: a hierarchical linear regression analysis

BackgroundHospitalization of newborns in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) exposes parents to considerable stress. This study aimed to determine the predictive role of parental stress and intolerance of uncertainty on the psychological well-being of parents with a newborn in NICU using hierarchical linear regression analysis.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 130 parents of newborns hospitalized in the NICU. Data were collected using Parental Stress Scale, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, and Psychological Wellbeing Scale. The data were analyzed in SPSS v.26 using hierarchical linear regression analysis.ResultsThe mean scores of the parents’ psychological well-being, parental stress, and intolerance of uncertainty were 79.08 (SD = 11.70), 63.06 (SD = 26.71), and 75.38 (SD = 19.40), respectively. The result of the hierarchical linear regression analysis revealed that, in step 1, academic education had a significant proportion of the variance of parents’ psychological well-being (β = 0.26, P = 0.005). In step 2, it was shown that academic education (β=-0.25, P = 0.006) and parental stress (β=-0.25, P = 0.006) had a significant proportion of the variance of parents’ psychological well-being. According to step 2, education levels, parental stress, and intolerance of uncertainty explained 22% of the changes in parents’ psychological well-being.ConclusionThere was a significant association between the parents’ psychological well-being and education levels, intolerance of uncertainty, and parental stress. Academic education and parental stress were the predictors of parents’ psychological well-being. Based on these findings, early detection of parents’ education and stress are important for their psychological well-being.

A Meta-analysis of the Relations Between Socioeconomic Status and Parenting Practices.

The question of why parents parent the way they do is central in parenting studies. Research about the predictors of parenting has been guided by Belsky's classical model of parenting determinants. In this model, socioeconomic status was not explicitly considered as a determinant of parenting. However, there is ample research that came later that found relations between socioeconomic status and parenting. The aim of this study was to find an aggregate estimate of the relations between socioeconomic status and parenting practices using meta-analytic methods. We found that socioeconomic status was positively linked to positive parenting, and negatively linked to negative parenting. In particular, socioeconomic status was positively linked to parental warmth and parental behavioral control, but negatively linked to parental psychological control. The relations between socioeconomic status and positive or negative parenting were not moderated by child's age or sex and did not differ based on the type of socioeconomic status indicator. Moreover, all the correlations were small in magnitude, and were comparable to other predictors of parenting such as parent's depression, parent's personality traits, and child's temperament. Our results suggest that parent's overall socioeconomic status, or its different constituents, supplement Belsky's model of parenting determinants.

Parents' acceptability of blended psychological interventions for children with emotional disorders

ObjectivesThis study aims to (1) describe parents' knowledge and use of online resources to address children's mental health issues and the family's general internet and technology usage patterns; (2) examine parents' acceptance of blended interventions for children with emotional disorders (ED); and (3) analyse the predictors of parents' intention to use a blended intervention if their children experienced an ED. MethodThe sample included 164 Portuguese parents (95.7 % mothers) of children between the ages of 6 and 13 years who completed an online survey. The study was disseminated through social networks, personal contacts of the researchers, and among parents participating in a randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy of a psychological intervention for children with ED. ResultsOnly 4.3 % of parents knew about online psychological interventions for children, and only 1.2 % had used them before. Most parents (73.2 %) reported that they would choose face-to-face individual therapy as their first option if their child had any ED, followed by blended therapy (14.8 %). Regression analyses showed that higher levels of parents' intention to use a blended intervention were predicted by their perceptions of the utility or efficacy of this type of delivery format. Discussion/conclusionThese results suggest that although most parents show unfamiliarity with blended psychological interventions for children, they consider it a treatment modality to which they would resort if their children had emotional difficulties. Their intention to use such an intervention seems to be more likely if they perceive it as useful and effective.