Parental Relationship Quality Research Articles

Interrelationships of Quality of Parental Relationship, Self-esteem, and Relational Skills among 4Ps Teenage Beneficiaries in Iligan City, Philippines

Understanding how family dynamics and self-esteem impact the social development of teenagers from low-income backgrounds is crucial for designing effective youth development programs. This study investigates the relationship between parental relationships, self-esteem, and relational skills among senior high school students who are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Mindanao, Philippines. Utilizing a descriptive-correlational design and simple random sampling, the study surveyed 171 students using standardized questionnaires. Data analysis included mean, standard deviation, Pearson correlation, and linear regression. Participants reported high parental relationship quality, self-esteem, and relational skills components such as bi-directional communication, disclosure and interpersonal closeness, and emotional experience and expression. However, assertion and conflict resolution skills were rated moderately. Parental relationships significantly correlated with self-esteem, particularly with mothers (p<0.05). Both factors significantly influenced relational skills (p<0.05). These findings suggest that while the 4Ps program may positively impact family relationships and self-esteem, additional support might be beneficial for developing stronger assertion and conflict resolution skills among beneficiaries, potentially leading to improved overall social development.

Collateral Child and Parent Effects of Behavioral Sleep Interventions for Children with Rare Genetic Neurodevelopmental Conditions

Abstract Objectives This study, following Woodford et al. (2024), investigated the collateral child and parent effects of function-based behavioral sleep interventions for 21 children with rare genetic neurodevelopmental conditions (RGNC). Methods Measures completed by parents at pre- and post-intervention assessed change in children’s internalizing and externalizing symptoms, health-related quality of life, behavioral strengths and difficulties, as well as parental sleep, relationship quality, and mental health symptoms. Data were analysed using modified Brinley plots and effect size estimates. Results Results demonstrate modest collateral benefits across child emotional and behavioral difficulties and health-related quality of life, and maternal anxiety and stress symptoms and sleep quality. There was minimal improvement in parent ratings of child externalizing symptoms and physical health-related quality of life, parent relationship satisfaction and all paternal outcome measures. There was no statistically significant relationship between changes in collateral outcomes and sleep problem severity. Conclusions Findings underscore the diverse potential benefits of improved sleep and highlight the need for further prioritisation of sleep services and research in RGNC.

A Hybrid Digital Parenting Program Delivered Within the Malaysian Preschool System: Protocol for a Feasibility Study of a Small-Scale Factorial Cluster Randomized Trial.

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 4, and particularly target 4.2, which seeks to ensure that, by 2030, all children have access to quality early childhood development, care, and preprimary education so that they are ready for primary education, is far from being achieved. The COVID-19 pandemic compromised progress by disrupting education, reducing access to well-being resources, and increasing family violence. Evidence from low- and middle-income countries suggests that in-person parenting interventions are effective at improving child learning and preventing family violence. However, scaling up these programs is challenging because of resource constraints. Integrating digital and human-delivered intervention components is a potential solution to these challenges. There is a need to understand the feasibility and effectiveness of such interventions in low-resource settings. This study aims to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of a digital parenting program (called Naungan Kasih in Bahasa Melayu [Protection through Love]) delivered in Malaysia, with varying combinations of 2 components included to encourage engagement. The study is framed around the following objectives: (1) to determine the recruitment, retention, and engagement rates in each intervention condition; (2) to document implementation fidelity; (3) to explore program acceptability among key stakeholders; (4) to estimate intervention costs; and (5) to provide indications of the effectiveness of the 2 components. This 10-week factorial cluster randomized trial compares ParentText, a chatbot that delivers parenting and family violence prevention content to caregivers of preschool-aged children in combination with 2 engagement components: (1) a WhatsApp support group and (2) either 1 or 2 in-person sessions. The trial aims to recruit 160 primary and 160 secondary caregivers of children aged 4-6 years from 8 schools split equally across 2 locations: Kuala Lumpur and Negeri Sembilan. The primary outcomes concern the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and its components, including recruitment, retention, and engagement. The effectiveness outcomes include caregiver parenting practices, mental health and relationship quality, and child development. The evaluation involves mixed methods: quantitative caregiver surveys, digitally tracked engagement data of caregivers' use of the digital intervention components, direct assessments of children, and focus group discussions with caregivers and key stakeholders. Overall, 208 parents were recruited at baseline December 2023: 151 (72.6%) primary caregivers and 57 (27.4%) secondary caregivers. In January 2024, of these 208 parents, 168 (80.8%) enrolled in the program, which was completed in February. Postintervention data collection was completed in March 2024. Findings will be reported in the second half of 2024. This is the first factorial cluster randomized trial to assess the feasibility of a hybrid human-digital playful parenting program in Southeast Asia. The results will inform a large-scale optimization trial to establish the most effective, cost-effective, and scalable version of the intervention. OSF Registries; https://osf.io/f32ky. DERR1-10.2196/55491.

Associations between externalizing behavior problems and risky sexual behaviors in adolescence: Attachment as a mediator.

Risky sexual behaviors in adolescence are associated with negative health and psychological functioning outcomes. Although the association between behavior problems and risky sexual behaviors is well established, addressing these problems requires understanding the mechanisms that help explain this association. Adolescent attachment, while related to risky sexual behavior, has not been extensively explored as an outcome of childhood externalizing problems. The two objectives of this study were to explore the links between parental and peer attachment and risky sexual behaviors and to examine the mediating effect of attachment on the links between behavior problems and risky sexual behaviors. Five hundred and ninety-eight French-Canadian adolescents (46.2% girls), Mage at T1 = 13.23; Mage at T2 = 14.28; Mage at T3 = 17.35) participated in this longitudinal study. The quality of parental attachment at T2 was significantly and negatively associated with risky sexual behaviors 3 years later, at T3. More specifically, a lower quality parental attachment relationship was associated with having nonexclusive partners as well as with inconsistent condom use. Finally, parental attachment (T2) was a significant mediator between behavior problems (T1) and risky sexual behaviors (T3), but only for younger adolescents. Findings suggest that in addition to behavior problems in adolescence, the quality of parental attachment relationships may help in understanding risky sexual behaviors in adolescence.

Relational and physical aggression in preschool-age children: Associations with teacher, parent, sibling, and peer relationship quality.

Early childhood relationships with teachers, parents, siblings, and peers are foundational factors for later social functioning. High rates of childhood aggression have been associated with negative developmental consequences, however, the associations between child aggression on the quality of these formative relationships have not been studied extensively. In a sample of young children attending preschool (N = 114, Mage = 46.27 months, SD = 9.94, 40% girls), this study investigated associations between early childhood relational and physical aggression and the quality of concurrent teacher-child and parent-child closeness and conflict, sibling relationship quality, and positive peer interactions and peer rejection. Early childhood relational and physical aggression was associated with negative teacher-child relationships, and this was true for boys and girls. Differential patterns of prediction were found for relational and physical aggression on the other relationship variables. Relational aggression strongly predicted more positive peer interactions, whereas physical aggression predicted fewer positive peer interactions and greater peer rejection. Early childhood relational aggression predicted higher levels of teacher-child closeness, whereas physical aggression predicted lower levels of teacher-child closeness and fewer positive sibling interactions. These findings challenge common perceptions that aggression is negatively associated with relationship quality. Notably, relational aggression relative to physical aggression may be associated with some favorable relationship outcomes. We did not find support for an additive model of aggression whereby children who were both relationally and physically aggressive (co-morbid) were at higher risk for negative relationship quality. Implications of these findings for future research and prevention and intervention are discussed.

An intergenerational study of parental bonding on perceptions of parental and spousal criticism and marital relationship quality in Singapore.

Criticism is a form of interpersonal social rejection and destructive conflict behavior which has been associated with poor relationship outcomes in both parent-child and marital relationships. However, the role of the individual's perceptions of parental and spousal criticism in influencing the perceptions of criticism of other members in the family unit has not been examined. This study investigated the associations between parental bonding and perceptions of parental and spousal criticism across generations in Singapore. In all, 134 Singaporean married parent dyads (G2) and one child (G3) of each dyad were recruited. G2 parent participants completed the Perceived Criticism measure for their parents (G1) and spouses, the Parental Bonding Instrument and the Quality of Marriage Index. G3 children participants completed the Perceived Criticism measure for their parents (G2). Path analysis found that G2 perceptions of parental bonding were significant predictors of G2's perceptions of G1 parental criticism, which significantly predicted both G2's perceptions of spousal criticism and G3's perceptions of G2 parental criticism. Perceptions of spousal criticism were also found to predict marital relationship quality in G2 participants. Findings highlight the intergenerational transmission of perceptions of criticism across relationships in the family unit, providing support that parenting practices and communication patterns in one generation can predict those in the next generation in the Singaporean context. Future studies can look to replicate the findings in other cultures and include further investigations into sibling relationships as well.

Exploring Perinatal Biopsychosocial Factors and Epigenetic Age in 1-Year-Old Offspring

Background: Little is known about the determinants of epigenetic aging in pediatric populations. Methods: Epigenetic age was estimated from 258 1-year-olds, using pediatric buccal epigenetic and Horvath clocks. We explored associations between epigenetic age and maternal indicators of mental and relational health, substance use and general physical health assessed during trimester three. Results: Higher anxiety and stress, BMI and higher parent–parent relationship quality were associated with pediatric buccal epigenetic clock differences. High blood pressure during pregnancy was associated with Horvath age acceleration. Third-trimester smoking and pre-pregnancy weight were associated with acceleration and deceleration respectively, and concordant across clocks. Conclusion: A broad range of maternal factors may shape epigenetic age in infancy; further research is needed to explore the possible effects on health and development.

A Latent Profile Analysis of Lie-Telling to Parents and Friends during Adolescence.

Adolescence has been suggested to be a time of heightened lie-telling. The current study used a latent profile analysis to examine unique patterns of lie-telling for lies told to parents and friends during adolescence as well as whether adjustment indicators (relationship quality, depressive symptoms, social anxiety, externalizing problems) could be used to predict group membership. These patterns were examined among 828 10- to 16- year-olds (Mage = 12.39, SD = 1.69, 49.9% male). In both relationships, 5-profile solutions emerged; most adolescents reported very infrequent lie-telling, while a small portion (less than 5%) told high rates of lies. Adjustment indicators predicted group membership. Depressive symptoms, social anxiety, parent relationship quality, and externalizing problems predicted group membership for lying to parents. Depressive symptoms and social anxiety predicted group membership for lying to friends. The findings indicate that high rates of lie-telling found in previous research may be driven by a small number of prolific lie-tellers.

Parental exhaustion during COVID-19 pandemic: links to relationship outcomes and dyadic coping.

The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown altered families? routines, from telework imposition to performing additional childcare, as children started studying at home. Adapting to these demands can have effects on couples' relationships. This study aimed to analyze couples? experiences of parental exhaustion during the lockdown and to understand its links to relationship satisfaction and conflict frequency. It also explored how couples' internal resources (e.g., dyadic coping) buffered these effects. We examined data from 210 individuals in a romantic relationship who were cohabiting with their partners, teleworking, and had children under 18. Absolute values of parental exhaustion and relationship quality were not severe, but there was evidence that parental exhaustion contributed to decreasing relationship satisfaction and increasing conflict. Positive forms of dyadic coping were found to moderate only the adverse effects on conflict frequency. Implications of these results to couple's support under stressful events are provided.

The influence of individual, peer, and family factors on the educational aspirations of adolescents in rural China

Educational aspirations are an important predictor of academic outcomes. While there has been considerable research on educational aspirations in the West, there has been little research in East Asia, and the investigation of factors influencing adolescent aspirations has been neglected, particularly in rural areas. Drawing on ecological systems theory and social cognitive career theory, this study investigated the associations between educational aspirations and factors at the individual, peer, and family levels among rural Chinese adolescents. A total of 606 students (Mage = 14.85 years; 50% boys) from a rural town in Central China completed questionnaires assessing their educational aspirations, individual factors (academic performance, academic self-perception, academic self-regulation, attitudes toward teachers, and goal valuation), and contextual factors (family socioeconomic status, parent and peer relationship quality, and parental and close friends’ aspirations). Individual factors and aspirations of others had significant direct effects on adolescents’ educational aspirations, while parent and peer attachments were significantly related to educational aspirations via individual factors. Family socioeconomic status was not significantly related to adolescents’ educational aspirations. The findings highlight the importance of individual factors as mechanisms explaining the link between contextual factors and rural Chinese adolescents’ educational aspirations. Our results suggest that interventions can be designed to increase and maintain the aspirations of rural Chinese youth by targeting multiple domains of influence.

The Moderating Role of Dyadic Coping in the Link Between Parenting Stress and Couple Relationship Quality in Parents of Children with ADHD

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders in childhood and adolescence. The child’s ADHD symptoms are associated with increased stress levels for parents. Previous research has shown that parenting stress has a negative impact on parental relationship quality, but those negative effects can be mitigated through the couple’s positive dyadic coping. However, these associations have not yet been studied for parents of children with ADHD. Therefore, this cross-sectional online study was aiming at investigating whether dyadic coping moderates the link between parenting stress and couple relationship quality in parents of children with ADHD in comparison to parents of children without ADHD. Data from 446 parents of children aged 6 to 16 years (clinical group: n = 265 parents of children with ADHD; control group: n = 181 parents of children without ADHD) were analyzed separately for both groups using moderation analyses. Results showed that negative dyadic coping significantly moderated the association between parenting stress and relationship quality in parents of children with ADHD, such that the link was positive, when negative dyadic coping was low. No comparable results were found in the control group. With respect to positive dyadic coping, there were no moderation effects in either group. The findings indicate that stress in parents of children with ADHD may have a favorable effect on the couple relationship if negative dyadic coping is minimized. Therefore, reducing negative dyadic coping could have a beneficial effect on the parents’ relationship quality and ultimately on the overall family climate.

Exploring the Unique Associations of Parent–Adult Child Relationships and Ongoing Parental Romantic Relationships with Adult Children’s Romantic Relationships

The present study is the first to examine whether ongoing parental romantic relationship quality, as well as the adult children’s relationship quality with their parents, are uniquely associated with adult children’s romantic relationship dynamics. We use dyadic data from 3,241 families to assess associations between expressions of emotional intimacy and admiration within parents’ romantic relationships, adult children’s romantic relationships, and adult children’s relationships with their parents. Structural equation modeling showed that ongoing parental romantic responsible actions and parent–adult child relationships are both uniquely associated with responsible actions within adult children’s romantic relationships. Important clinical implications are discussed.

Parent and Friend Relationship Quality and Links to Trajectories of Loneliness During the First Year of College

Beginning college involves changes that can increase one’s vulnerability to loneliness and associated negative outcomes. Parent and friend relationships are potential protective factors against loneliness given their positive association with adjustment. The present longitudinal study, with data collection at baseline, 1 month, and 2 months later, assessed the comparative effects of self-reported parent and friend relationship quality on loneliness in first-year college students (N = 101; 80 female, Mage = 18.36). At baseline, parent and friend relationship quality were negatively associated with loneliness. Longitudinal data revealed that friend relationship quality interacted with time, such that its effects on loneliness attenuated over the course of 2 months. By contrast, parent relationship quality continued to predict lower loneliness 2 months post-baseline. These results highlight the importance of close relationships and suggest that targeting relationship quality could be effective in helping youth transition to college.

Child-parent relationship during the Wuhan COVID-19 lockdown: Role of changes in preschool children's daily routines.

ObjectiveWe examined the impact of the strict lockdown on 130 preschool‐age children's daily routines and how their routine changes from pre‐lockdown were related to child–parent relationship quality during the lockdown.BackgroundTo contain the spread of the COVID‐19, the city of Wuhan underwent a strict 76‐day lockdown, during which children's routines were drastically altered, yet families did not have a frame of reference to use to determine how changes in children's routines would be related to their family dynamics.MethodParents provided survey data on the amount of time their children spent daily on learning, screen devices, play and exercise, and nighttime sleep before, during, and after the lockdown. The also described general family functioning, child–parent closeness, and child–parent conflict during the lockdown.ResultsThe lockdown led to changes in all four routines, but all returned to pre‐lockdown level after the lockdown was lifted. Regression analyses showed that decrease in play and exercise time was related to less child–parent closeness, and decrease in learning time and increase in nighttime sleep time were related to more child–parent conflict.ConclusionFindings suggested changes in the children's play and exercise time, learning time, and nighttime sleep time were related to negative child–parent relationship (i.e., less closeness or more conflict), but favorable general functioning was a protective factor.ImplicationsOur study highlighted family resilience in restoring the children's routines after the lockdown, as well as family vulnerability during the lockdown, as changes in three of the four routines examined were linked to negative child–parent relationship.

Lay Beliefs about the Possibility of Finding Enduring Love: A Mediator of the Effect of Parental Relationship Quality on Own Romantic Relationship Quality

This paper tested mechanisms that explain why and how relationship quality between parents might impact on later romantic relationship quality of adult children. In both the pilot (N = 119) and the main (N = 684) study, a model fit the data well whereby perceived “parental relationship quality” predicted “positive lay theories” about romantic love. This, in turn, predicted “secure attachment” to the romantic partner, which in turn predicted “relationship satisfaction” with the romantic relationship. Findings suggest that lay theories about finding enduring love are an important mediator of effects of parental relationships on later adult relationships.

Prevalence and Correlates of Prescription Drug Misuse Among Spanish Adolescents.

Prescription drug (PD) misuse among adolescents constitutes a growing health concern worldwide. This study aimed to provide up-to-date prevalence and correlates of PD misuse (i.e., tranquilizers, opioids and stimulants) among a national representative sample of high-school adolescents in Spain. We used nationwide data from 36,788 adolescents (51.93% females) aged between 14 and 18 who completed the 2018-2019 Survey on Drug Use in Secondary Education in Spain (ESTUDES). Lifetime misuse of the following PD was assessed: tranquilizers without prescription, opioids to get high, and prescription stimulants to improve academic performance. Other substance use, sociodemographic characteristics, academic performance related variables, and the quality of parental relationship were assessed. Lifetime prevalence of PD misuse was 8.50% for tranquilizers, 2.34% for stimulants, and 2.20% for opioids. Past-month tobacco use and lifetime illegal substance use were the only correlates associated with all PD categories (ORs between 1.419 and 6.788). The remaining sociodemographic, academic and family correlates were PD category-specific. This information may help in the development of empirically-based preventive interventions.

Individual differences in the development of youth externalizing problems predict a broad range of adult psychosocial outcomes.

This study examined how youth aggressive and delinquent externalizing problem behaviors across childhood and adolescence are connected to consequential psychosocial life outcomes in adulthood. Using data from a longitudinal, high-risk sample (N = 1069) that assessed children and their parents regularly from early childhood (ages 3-5) through adulthood, multilevel growth factors of externalizing behaviors were used to predict adult outcomes (age 24-31), providing a sense of how externalizing problems across development were related to these outcomes via maternal, paternal, teacher, and child report. Findings indicated strong support for the lasting connections between youth externalizing problems with later educational attainment and legal difficulties, spanning informants and enduring beyond other meaningful contributors (i.e., child sex, cognitive ability, parental income and education, parental mental health and relationship quality). Some support was also found, although less consistently, linking externalizing problems and later alcohol use as well as romantic relationship quality. Delinquent/rule-breaking behaviors were often stronger predictors of later outcomes than aggressive behaviors. Taken together, these results indicate the importance of the role youth externalizing behaviors have in adult psychosocial functioning one to two decades later.

Latent profile analysis to identify subgroups of Chinese sexual minority adolescents at risk of suicidality

BackgroundThis study aimed to identify latent class profiles of sexual minority adolescents (Men Sexually attracted to Men, Women Sexually attracted to Women, and Bisexual) with elevated suicidal ideation. MethodsData were collected from 18 secondary schools in China. Sub-group classifications were identified using variables associated with suicidal ideation in sexual minority adolescents, including parental relationship quality, electronic equipment time, school bullying, and sleep quality using the Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to measure sleep. Anxiety was measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7), depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), hypomania using the Hypomanic Checklist-32 (HCL-32), positive coping style was identified using the Trait Coping Style Questionnaire, and self-efficacy was measured by the General Self-Efficacy Scale. ResultsFour distinctive profiles were derived from the data. Compared to “low-risk” group (Class 3), the “adolescent with mood problems” group (Class 2) had a 9.81 times higher risk of suicidal ideation; the those who classified as “severe bullied adolescent” (Class 4) had a 9.26 times higher risk of suicidal ideation. and the “adolescents with low self-efficacy” group (Class 1) had a 4.48 times higher risk of suicidal ideation. ConclusionsSexual minority adolescents with mood problems have the highest risk of suicidal ideation, followed by adolescents frequently being bullied at school. Interventions aimed at reducing suicide risk among sexual minority adolescents may benefit from attending to such profile factors identified in this study to develop targeted clinical care.

Group Triple P Intervention Effects on Children and Parents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Supporting parents through the delivery of evidence-based parenting interventions (EBPI) is a way of promoting children’s rights, given the known benefits to child development and family wellbeing. Group Triple P (GTP) is an EBPI suitable for parents of children aged 2–12 years, who experience parenting difficulties, and/or child behavior problems. Even though GTP has been intensively studied, information lacks on the magnitude of its effects, considering the risk of bias within and across prior research. To address this, a systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO registration CRD42019085360) to evaluate the effects of GTP on child and parent outcomes at short- and longer-term was performed. Through a systematic search of a set of databases, 737 research papers were identified, and 11 trials were selected. The risk of bias within and across studies was evaluated. Significant positive effects of GTP were found immediately after the intervention for child behavior problems, dysfunctional parenting practices, parenting sense of competence, psychological adjustment, parental stress levels, conflict, and relationship quality. Six months after the intervention, positive effects were found only for child behavior problems. Data suggest that GTP might be an effective EBPI leading to positive family outcomes. Substantial risk of bias was found, highlighting the importance of improving the quality of research.

Support Exchanges Among Very Old Parents and Their Children: Findings From the Boston Aging Together Study

Very old parents and their “old” children are a growing group in industrialized countries worldwide. Care needs of very old parents can be substantial, while children may also face their own age-related issues. However, little is known about support exchanges within very-old parent-child dyads. This study aimed to identify patterns of support exchanges occurring in these dyads, as well as to ascertain individual and relationship factors associated with these patterns. Participants were 114 very old parents (age ≥ 90) and their children (age ≥ 65) from the Boston Aging Together Study. Data were collected using comprehensive, semistructured in-person interviews with both dyad members, including standardized assessments of support exchanges, relationship quality, health, and perceptions of family norms. Actor-Partner Interdependence Models (APIM) were used to predict upward and downward support reported by children and parents. Both dyad members not only reported substantial upward support (given to parents by children) in all domains but also notable amounts of downward support (given to children by parents) in the domains of emotional support, listening, and socializing. Findings showed significant associations of parent functional impairment, parent and child relationship quality, and child perceptions of family obligation with upward support, and of relationship quality with downward support. Continued support exchanges among very old parents and their children indicated that intergenerational theories still hold up in very late life relationships. Healthcare professionals should be aware that attention to relationship quality and family norms might be vital to ensure that support needs are met.