Comparisons of HIV-affected and non-HIV-affected families over time

This study compares HIV-affected families' and their non-HIV-affected neighbors' behavioral health outcomes and family conflict. To compare two groups from the same neighborhoods at four points over 18 months, mothers living with HIV (MLH) (N?=?167) and their school-age children (age 6–20) were recruited from clinical care settings in Los Angeles, CA, and neighborhood control mothers (NCM) without HIV (N?=?204) were recruited from modal neighborhoods. In addition, children living at home who were 12 years and older were recruited. We assessed parenting behaviors, family conflict, mental health, sexual behavior, substance use, and HIV-related health behaviors over time. MLH perceived greater economic insecurity at baseline, less employment, and involvement in romantic relationships. MLH reported more emotional distress and substance use than NCM. MLH, however, reported lowered HIV transmission risk. The random regressions indicated that MLH exhibited higher levels of risk and became significantly less depressed and less anxious over time than their non-HIV-affected neighbors. MLH also reported less initial family violence and conflict reasoning than NCM; violence decreased and conflict increased over time for MLH relative to NCM. Children of MLH decreased their marijuana use but hard drug users of MLH increased their risk, over time, compared to children of NCM. Moreover, children of MLH reported more internalizing behaviors than children of NCM. Even when compared to other families living in the same economically disadvantaged communities, MLH and their children continue to face challenges surrounding family conflict and key behavioral health outcomes, especially with respect to substance use and mental health outcomes. These families, however, show much resilience, and MLH report lowered levels of HIV transmission risk, their children report no greater levels of HIV transmission risk, and levels of family violence were lower than reported by families in the same neighborhoods.     

Child behaviour and parenting in HIV/AIDS-affected families in China

Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) among families in China poses many challenges for caregivers and their children. A total of 154 caregivers of HIV/AIDS-affected children were interviewed to examine child behaviour in HIV/AIDS-affected families. Parenting skills were found to be correlated with child delinquency, and this correlation was influenced by the number of children in the family and the child's age. Illiterate caregivers were more likely to have delinquent children, and parenting skills had less of an association with child delinquency among illiterate caregivers. Study findings underscore the necessity of emphasizing good parenting skills in interventions with caregivers of HIV/AIDS-affected children in China in order to improve child behaviour and overall family well-being.     

Using household survey data to inform policy decisions regarding the delivery of evidence-based parenting interventions

BACKGROUND: This study used household survey data on the prevalence of child, parent and family variables to establish potential targets for a population-level intervention to strengthen parenting skills in the community. The goals of the intervention include decreasing child conduct problems, increasing parental self-efficacy, use of positive parenting strategies, decreasing coercive parenting and increasing help-seeking, social support and participation in positive parenting programmes. METHODS: A total of 4010 parents with a child under the age of 12 years completed a statewide telephone survey on parenting. RESULTS: One in three parents reported that their child had a behavioural or emotional problem in the previous 6 months. Furthermore, 9% of children aged 2-12 years meet criteria for oppositional defiant disorder. Parents who reported their child's behaviour to be difficult were more likely to perceive parenting as a negative experience (i.e. demanding, stressful and depressing). Parents with greatest difficulties were mothers without partners and who had low levels of confidence in their parenting roles. About 20% of parents reported being stressed and 5% reported being depressed in the 2 weeks prior to the survey. Parents with personal adjustment problems had lower levels of parenting confidence and their child was more difficult to manage. Only one in four parents had participated in a parent education programme. CONCLUSIONS: Implications for the setting of population-level goals and targets for strengthening parenting skills are discussed.     

Parenting stress in US families: implications for paediatric healthcare utilization

Objective According to family stress models, parental responses to stress disrupt interactions between parent and child and may lead to parental inability to seek timely medical care for their child. The objective of this study was to quantitatively assess the relationship between high parenting stress and child healthcare utilization. Methods We used the 2003–2004 National Survey of Children's Health to determine the prevalence of parenting stress in US families and associated socio‐demographic variables. We used weighted logistic regression to investigate associations between parenting stress and healthcare utilization, controlling for other parental psychosocial and socio‐demographic variables. The primary independent variables were parenting stress, parental mental health, parental coping and social support. The main dependent variables were emergency care, sick visits to primary care and preventive care in the past 12 months. Results Nationally, 13% of children lived in households with at least one parent experiencing high parenting stress. Socio‐demographic variables associated with the highest odds of parenting stress included Black race, special needs status and non‐English primary language. Parents with high parenting stress had a higher odds (adjusted odds ratio 1.24, 95% confidence interval 1.10–1.41) of seeking emergency care for their children compared with parents with low parenting stress, controlling for other parental psychosocial factors and socio‐demographic variables. Conclusions Having a parent who is experiencing high parenting stress is associated with greater utilization of paediatric emergency care. Interventions targeted at parenting stress may provide families with needed support and reduce unnecessary emergency care utilization.     

Pathways of influence: Chinese parents' expectations,parenting styles,and child social competence

This study examines relations among Chinese parents' expectations for children's development of social–emotional skills, parenting styles, and child social competence. A total of 154 parents with preschool-aged children from mainland China completed questionnaires measuring their timing of expectations for children's mastery of social–emotional skills, value placed on social–emotional skills, parenting styles, and child social competence. Parenting styles were found to mediate the effects of parental expectations on child social competence. Parents with earlier expectations reported higher levels of authoritative parenting, which, in turn, related to better parent-reported child social competence. Parents who placed more value on social–emotional skills were more likely to adopt an authoritative parenting style, and subsequently, they reported children having better social competence.     

Predictors of parenting self‐efficacy in mothers and fathers of toddlers

Background Researchers interested in child developmental outcomes have highlighted the role that parenting self‐efficacy (PSE) plays in psychosocial child adjustment. PSE is a cognitive construct that can be broadly defined as an individual's appraisal of his or her competence in the parental role. PSE has emerged in the literature as an important variable when exploring variance in parenting skills. Despite this, much remains to be learned about PSE. Little is known about the predictors of PSE, with much of the existing research conducted in a piecemeal fashion that lacks a solid theoretical framework. In addition, PSE in fathers has been understudied and relatively little is known about PSE in families with toddler age children. Informed by Belsky's process model of parenting, this study explored similarities and differences in PSE and the predictors of PSE for mothers and fathers of toddlers. Methods A total of 62 cohabiting couples whose first‐born child was 18–36 months old completed self‐report measures of PSE, general self‐efficacy, depression, marital satisfaction, parenting stress, child difficultness and family functioning. Results For fathers, parenting stress and their relational functioning (i.e. marital satisfaction and family functioning) with their spouse predicted PSE scores. For mothers, general self‐efficacy and relational functioning were predictive of PSE. Conclusions and limitations The results of this study support the use of Belsky's process model of parenting to study the predictors of PSE. Important differences were found in the prediction models for mothers and fathers. Future studies need to clarify the nature of parental self‐efficacy beliefs in fathers and continue to use comprehensive theoretical models to identify potentially relevant covariates of PSE. Limitations of the current investigation include reliance on self‐report measures and the homogeneity of the sample.     

Cultural Adaptations to a Family Life Skills Program: Implementation in Rural Appalachia

Numerous parent education programs have been developed to provide parents with the skills and support necessary to effectively improve their parenting abilities. The Strengthening Families Program (SFP) employs a "family skills training" approach for parents and their children (ages 6 to 10). This study focuses on the implementation and outcomes of a culturally adapted SFP in southwestern Virginia, an area known for its Appalachian culture. Two groups were compared (those that received an adapted curricula and those that did not) on retention rates, parental outcomes, child outcomes, and program satisfaction. Retention rates were significantly improved for those participants in the adapted curricula group; however, parent and child outcomes were not affected. Statistically significant improvements for parents were found in effective discipline practices, family cohesion, family conflict, confidence in parenting, and punishment practices; and for both groups of children in increased child social skills and closeness to mothers between pre- and post-test times.     

Does tiger parenting work in contemporary China? Exploring the relationships between parenting profiles and preschoolers’ school readiness in a Chinese context

ABSTRACT

This study explored the relationships between parenting profiles and young children’s school readiness in urban China. Eighty-six pairs of Chinese parents completed the Chinese Parenting Style Questionnaire (CPSQ), and their children were administered the Bracken School Readiness Composite (BSRC; Bracken, B. A. (1998). Bracken basic concept scale: Revised. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation.) and Preschool and Primary Chinese Literacy Scale (PPCLS; Li, H. (1999). Development and validation of the Preschool and Primary Chinese Literacy Scale. Psychological Development and Education, 15, 18–24.). A set of statistical analyses was conducted to explore the relationship between the three types of parenting profiles (supportive, tiger and easygoing) and children’s scores in BSRC and PPCLS, and four typical couples were invited to attend semi structured interviews. The results indicated that: (1) Inter-parental consistency in supportive parenting were associated with better children’s school readiness, but not for consistency in easygoing or tiger parenting; (2) Tiger mothers were not associated with better outcomes in either boys or girls; (3) Significant interaction effect was found between child gender and parenting profile. The findings have implications for the theoretical development of parental education and related programmes. Understanding the differentiated parenting styles and practices with boys and girls will help parents and educators to improve their educational practices.     

Play beliefs and responsive parenting among low-income mothers of preschoolers in the United States

This study examined associations between parents’ developmentally appropriate beliefs about young children’s play and responsive parenting. Low-income parents and their children enrolled in Head Start programmes (n?=?231) in the United States participated in the study. Responsive parenting skills (characterized by high levels of warmth and responsiveness, and lower levels of hostility) were related to parents’ beliefs endorsing play as valuable (Play Support) for promoting preschool children’s social skills and school readiness. Additionally, higher levels of parent depression were negatively associated with Play Support beliefs while higher levels of parent efficacy were positively associated. Parent education showed a positive relation with Play Support beliefs and a negative relationship with beliefs regarding focusing on academic readiness of children without playful learning (Academic Focus). Implications for understanding play-based approaches for promoting children’s developmental outcomes within early childhood programmes and family interventions are discussed.     

Positive parenting support during family reunification

ABSTRACT

This article presents the results of a qualitative study that explores parenting skills when a child returns home after a period of foster care in the child protection system. There were a total of 135 participants, including 63 child protection professionals, 42 parents and 30 children and adolescents. The data were analysed using content analysis submitted to peer review. Triangulating the voices of children with the input of parents and professionals rendered it possible to identify needs for the consolidation of family reunification in five dimensions: adjustment of parenting skills, adaptation to the needs of the child, social support, more accurate perception of one’s role, and parental self-efficacy. These findings suggest particular characteristics in the development of both generally applicable skills and skills specific to positive parenting that can improve the chances of a successful reunification process.     

Parenting and Turkish children’s behaviour problems: the moderating role of qualities of parent–child relationship

The current study is an examination of contributions of parenting styles and qualities of parent–child relationship (PCR) to Turkish children’s externalizing and internalizing behaviours, with a specific focus on the moderating role of PCR (closeness and conflict) on parenting styles (authoritarian and democratic/authoritative) when predicting children’s externalizing and internalizing behaviours. Participants were 94 children (56 boys) with the mean age of 7.05 years (SD?=?0.88) in a suburban district in Turkey. Mothers reported on their parenting styles and relationships with their children as well as children’s externalizing and internalizing behaviours. Results from regression analyses showed that parent–child closeness significantly moderated the association between authoritarian parenting and children’s externalizing behaviours. Parent–child conflict significantly moderated the association between authoritarian parenting and children’s internalizing behaviours. The parent–child conflict was positively associated with children’s externalizing behaviour and authoritarian parenting was positively associated with internalizing behaviour. Limitations and future directions of the current study are discussed.     

Expanding the understanding of how parenting influences the dietary intake and weight status of children: A cross‐sectional study

Aim: The present study explored whether existing tools measuring parenting could be combined to assess an expanded parenting definition, specifically to include co‐participation in food‐related activities and teaching children about nutrition. The relationships between parenting, child dietary intake and weight outcomes were explored. Methods: The sample included 93 children aged 4–13 years and their parent/caregiver. Child outcomes were dietary intake and body mass index z‐score. Parent measures included demographics, nutrition knowledge and parenting practices. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify underlying dimensions of parenting. Hierarchical linear regression was used to investigate the independent effects of parenting on child outcomes (body mass index z‐score, fruit and vegetable, fibre, saturated and total fat) after adjustment for covariates. Results: Five factors were extracted, accounting for 44% of the total variance (α= 0.77–0.87). The regression model for kilojoules explained 31% of the variance (P= 0.001), with a significant independent contribution from construct ‘guide and reward’ (β=?0.249, P= 0.027). For child body mass index z‐score, the model explained 25% of variance, and parenting constructs ‘guide and reward’ (β= 0.274, P= 0.015) and ‘concern about intake’ (β=?0.273, P= 0.008) made significant contributions. Conclusions: The present study adds to our understanding of parenting influences on children's dietary intake and weight status. Results support the inclusion of parenting strategies in obesity prevention interventions. Future research should explore the range of ways parenting influences children's diet and risk of obesity, preferably longitudinally.     

The Association Between Overparenting,Parent‐Child Communication,and Entitlement and Adaptive Traits in Adult Children

What is colloquially referred to as “helicopter parenting” is a form of overparenting in which parents apply overly involved and developmentally inappropriate tactics to their children who are otherwise able to assume adult responsibilities and autonomy. Overparenting is hypothesized to be associated with dysfunctional family processes and negative child outcomes. Predictions were tested on 538 parent‐young adult child dyads from locations throughout most of the United States. Parents completed a newly developed measure of overparenting as well as family enmenshment, parenting styles, and parent‐child communication scales. Young adult children completed measures of parent‐child communication, family satisfaction, entitlement, and several adaptive traits. Results showed that overparenting is associated with lower quality parent‐child communication and has an indirect effect on lower family satisfaction. Overparenting was also a significant predictor of young adult child entitlement, although it was not related to any of the adaptive traits measured in young adult children.     

Parenting and children's cardiovascular functioning

Objectives To test the hypothesis that more supportive/less negative parenting is associated with lower resting blood pressure and heart rates in children and to determine whether parent and/or child gender and developmental stage moderate the relations in question. Design Longitudinal data on 835 children/families who participated in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development were analysed. Children (one per family) were followed from age 1 month to 11 years. Methods Data were collected from children and their families via interviews, observations of parent–child interaction and physical health assessments. Results Correlations show that more supportive and less negative parenting prior to kindergarten entry (～5 years) are associated with lower heart rates and blood pressure in children of primary school grades 4–6 (～9 to 11 years), especially in the case of fathering, sons and parenting during the pre‐school years. Conclusions Such findings raise the prospect that interventions to enhance parenting, especially the early fathering of sons, may have beneficial effects on children's cardiovascular functioning. The inability to discount genetic mediation of parenting effects makes it clear that behaviour‐genetic and/or experimental research is needed to document cause and effect relations.     

Predictors of harsh parenting practices in parents of children with disabilities

International research indicates that children with disabilities are more exposed to negative parenting than their non-disabled peers. The mechanisms behind this increased risk are likely operating at the levels of the individual child, the family and the broader social context. The present study investigated harsh parenting practices using self-report data from Swedish parents of children with disabilities (30 mothers and 14 fathers) and control parents (145 mothers and 25 fathers). Sweden provides an interesting context for the current research since it has outlawed physical punishment of children, displays comparatively small gaps in socio-economic circumstances and has implemented an extensive welfare system addressing the needs of children with disabilities and their families. There was no difference in harsh parenting practices between parents of children with disabilities and control parents. However, more fathers of children with disabilities than control fathers admitted use of violence at least once. Within the group of parents of children with disabilities, child disruptive behaviour problems predicted harsh parenting practices. Socio-economic disadvantage did not predict harsh parenting practices and possible explanations for this absent finding are discussed. Clinical and policy implications are discussed.     

Parenting children with neurodevelopmental disorders and/or behaviour problems

Background Parenting behaviours influence child well‐being and development. However, much of the research on parenting behaviours and their correlates has focused on caregivers of healthy, typically developing children. Relatively less is known about the parenting behaviours of caregivers of children with chronic health conditions. Objective To examine and compare three parenting behaviours (positive interactions, consistency and ineffective parenting) among caregivers of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and/or externalizing behaviour problems, before and after accounting for child and family socio‐demographic characteristics. Methods Participants (n= 14 226) were drawn from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, a long‐term study of Canadian children that follows their development and well‐being from birth to early adulthood. Children (and their caregivers) were divided into four groups according to the presence of a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD; n= 815), the presence of an externalizing behaviour problem (EBP; n= 1322), the presence of both conditions (BOTH; n= 452) or neither of these conditions (NEITHER; n= 11 376). Results Caregivers of children in the NEITHER group reported significantly higher positive interaction scores and lower ineffective parenting behaviours than caregivers of children in any of the other three groups. Caregivers of children in the EBP and BOTH groups reported similar levels of consistency, but significantly lower levels than caregivers of NDD or NEITHER children. These associations largely remained after accounting for child and family socio‐demographic characteristics, with two exceptions: caregivers' reports of positive interactions were no longer significantly associated with child's NDD and BOTH conditions. Conclusions Parenting children with multiple health conditions can be associated with less positive, less consistent and more ineffective parenting behaviours. Understanding the factors that are associated with the challenges of caring for these children may require additional research attention.     

Systematic review of the efficacy of parenting interventions for children with cerebral palsy

This systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy of parenting interventions (i.e. behavioural family intervention and parent training) with parents of children with cerebral palsy (CP) on child behavioural outcomes and parenting style/skill outcomes. The following databases were searched: Medline (1950-April 2010), PubMed (1951-April 2010), PsycINFO (1840-April 2010), CINAHL (1982-April 2010) and Web of Science (1900-April 2010). No randomized clinical trials of parenting interventions with parents of children with CP were identified. Three studies were identified that involved the examination of a targeted parenting intervention via a pre-post design. Interventions utilized included the implementation of parenting interventions in conjunction with behavioural intervention and oral motor exercises for children with CP and feeding difficulties, the Hanen It Takes Two to Talk programme and a Functional Communication Training programme for parents. All studies found changes in relevant child behavioural outcomes. The studies reviewed suggest that parenting interventions may be an effective intervention for parents of children with CP. However, the current research is limited to pre-post designs of targeted parenting interventions (e.g. parenting interventions focused upon communication). A randomized controlled trial of parenting interventions for families of children with CP is urgently needed to address this paucity in the literature and provide families of children with CP with an evidence-based intervention to address child behavioural and emotional problems as well as parenting challenges.     

Family-focused weight management program for five- to nine-year-olds incorporating parenting skills training with healthy lifestyle information to support behaviour modification

This case study aims to describe how general parenting principles can be used as part of parent‐led, family‐focused child weight management that is in line with current Australian Clinical Practice Guidelines. A parent‐led, family‐focused child weight management program was designed for use by dietitians with parents of young children (five‐ to nine‐year‐olds). The program utilises the cornerstones of overweight treatment: diet, activity, behaviour modification and family support delivered in an age‐appropriate, family‐focused manner. Parents participate in 16 sessions (4 parenting‐focused, 8 lifestyle‐focused and 4 individual telephone support calls) conducted weekly, fortnightly then monthly over six months. This case study illustrates how a family used the program, resulting in reduced degree of overweight and stabilised waist circumference in the child over 12 months. In conclusion, linking parenting skills to healthy family lifestyle education provides an innovative approach to family‐focused child weight management. It addresses key Australian Clinical Practice Guidelines, works at the family level, and provides a means for dietitians to easily adopt age‐appropriate behaviour modification as part of their practice.     

Paths to child social adjustment: parenting quality and children's processing of social information

BaCKGROUND: The purpose of this research was to examine the manner in which multiple influences on child social adjustment operated together to predict differential outcomes for young children. Specifically, this study was designed to (i) examine the role of social cognitive and emotional factors in parents' observed and self-reported behaviour towards their children, and (ii) investigate the impact of parenting and children's social information processing (SIP) patterns on children's subsequent social adjustment in the school setting. METHODS: A model of children's peer social adjustment was evaluated using a group of 166 children, over-sampled for history of physical child abuse. Assessment of constructs was multi-method, including parent and child self-reports as well as teacher reports of child adjustment and observations of parent-child and child-peer interactions. RESULTS: Using structural equation modelling, support was found for our theoretical model. Specifically, parents' negative child-related beliefs and clinical elevations in emotional distress were predictors of harsh, insensitive parenting, which in turn predicted children's SIP operations and social maladjustment 6 months later. However, children's SIP did not significantly predict their social adjustment above and beyond the impact of parenting. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated that the quality of parenting that children received was more central to subsequent adjustment in peer interactions than were children's SIP operations. Furthermore, the quality of parenting children experienced was closely linked to parents' beliefs about their children and parents' mental health status. Directions for future research and potential implications for clinical practice are discussed.     

嘉兴市9 384例婴幼儿养育风险的现况调查

目的 了解嘉兴市0~3岁婴幼儿养育风险现状,为婴幼儿家庭提供针对性的养育指导。方法 采用横断面调查方法,2020年6月1日—7月31日期间在嘉兴地区所有儿童保健门诊体检的0~3岁儿童为研究对象,家长现场用手机问卷星填写《养育风险问卷》以及人口学和家庭基本情况,根据风险因素给予家庭干预指导。 结果 共调查9 384例0~3岁婴幼儿家庭。养育风险筛查阳性率40.83%,男童高于女童(43.11% vs 38.32%);初中及以下学历母亲阳性率49.11%,高中及大专40.68%,本科及以上33.51%,随着学历增加养育风险阳性率下降,差异有统计学意义(χ²=124.062,P＜0.001),城镇与农村、一胎与二胎及以上家庭筛查阳性率差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05)。男童家庭养育风险数量多于女童家庭,差异有统计学意义(χ²=22.247,P＜0.001),低学历家庭养育风险数量多于高学历家庭,差异有统计学意义(χ²=124.062,P＜0.001),城镇与农村、一胎与二胎及以上家庭在家庭养育风险数上差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05)。在不同家庭因素分组比较中发现,不同分组中第一位养育风险因素均相同:儿童每天很少食用瘦肉或鸡蛋(8.95%~14.90%),其余前4位分别为家中没有图画书(5.27%~11.88%)、儿童有营养不良(5.77%~8.02%)、没有给儿童吃富含铁的食物(5.19%~6.80%)、很少跟儿童说话、讲故事(3.60%~8.02%)。结论 现阶段0~3岁婴幼儿普遍存在养育风险,各级专业人员亟需加强健康教育与筛查,尤其是男童及母亲学历较低家庭,在开展养育照护工作时应重视辅食添加及辅食质量的宣教,同时强调早期图书接触及回应性照护的重要性,规避家庭养育中可避免的风险,促进婴幼儿身心健康发展。