Financial Stress,Parental Depressive Symptoms,Parenting Practices,and Children's Externalizing Problem Behaviors: Underlying Processes

This study examined the relationships among financial stress encountered by families, parents' social support, parental depressive symptoms, parenting practices, and children's externalizing problem behaviors to advance our understanding of the processes by which family financial stress is associated with children's problem behaviors. We also tested moderated mediation to investigate if these relationships differed depending on children's characteristics. The data were drawn from 290 predominantly rural families with young children who were identified as at risk for the development of serious conduct problems. Using structural equation modeling, we found that the relationship between family income and children's externalizing problem behaviors was mediated by parents' social support, parental depressive symptoms, and parenting practices. The results also showed that the children's levels of aggression severity, academic functioning, and developmental strengths moderated the mediating relationships between family income and parental depressive symptoms and between family income and positive parenting.     

The Relationship of Father Parenting Capacity Variables to Perceived Uncertainty in Youth With a Chronic Illness

This study examined the relationship between father parenting capacity variables and youth illness uncertainty. Thirty-seven youth (ages 8–18) with a chronic illness and their fathers participated. Fathers completed the Parenting Stress Index–Short Form, the Child Vulnerability Scale, and the Parent Protection Scale, and the youth completed the Children's Uncertainty in Illness Scale. Regression analyses indicated that father-reported parenting stress and child vulnerability was associated with youth-reported illness uncertainty. Paternal overprotection was not related to uncertainty. Results address a gap in the pediatric chronic illness literature, and suggest that the influences of fathers' parenting characteristics are important to understanding youth adjustment to chronic illness.     

Posttraumatic stress and resilience in parents of youth with chronic pain

The objective of this study was to assess resilience in parents of youth with chronic pain, as well as to examine the relationships between parental resilience and distress, and child pain. There is evidence that parents can play a critical role in how their children’s pain problems develop, are experienced, and are maintained, yet no study to date has quantitatively evaluated parental resilience. Participants were 135 parent–child dyads referred to a tertiary-level chronic pain program. Parents completed measures of post-traumatic growth (PTG), post-traumatic stress symptoms, anxiety, and depression. Youth (M age = 13.1) completed measures assessing pain intensity and interference. The most PTG was observed at moderate level of PTSS, suggesting that some stress was necessary to foster resilience. Parental PTG was positively associated with parental internalizing symptoms and child pain outcomes, and moderated the relationship between parental depressive symptoms and child pain intensity. Resilience and distress may co-exist in the parents of youth with chronic pain, with resilience acting as a potential buffer between parent distress and child pain.     

The relationship between parenting stress, parental intelligence and child behavior problems in a study of Korean preschool mothers

The current study examined the relationship between Korean mothers' parenting stress and parental intelligence, and child behavior problems as well as the mediation effects of parental intelligence, which tested the association between parenting stress and child behavior problems. A sample of 436 typically developing children and their mothers participated and were assessed by the Parenting Stress Index—Short Form, the Parental Intelligence Scale and the K-Child Behavior Check List. Results indicated that parenting stress, parental intelligence and child behavior problems were related; especially, parenting stress significantly predicted child behavior problems. Despite its substantive relationship, parental intelligence did not appear to mediate this relationship.     

The relationship between parenting stress,parental intelligence and child behavior problems in a study of Korean preschool mothers

The current study examined the relationship between Korean mothers’ parenting stress and parental intelligence, and child behavior problems as well as the mediation effects of parental intelligence, which tested the association between parenting stress and child behavior problems. A sample of 436 typically developing children and their mothers participated and were assessed by the Parenting Stress Index—Short Form, the Parental Intelligence Scale and the K‐Child Behavior Check List. Results indicated that parenting stress, parental intelligence and child behavior problems were related; especially, parenting stress significantly predicted child behavior problems. Despite its substantive relationship, parental intelligence did not appear to mediate this relationship.     

Family Income and Parenting: The Role of Parental Depression and Social Support

This study examined the relations among family income, social support, parental depression, and parenting among 290 predominantly rural families with children at risk for disruptive or socially withdrawn behaviors. Structural equation modeling and multiple regression were used, and the results showed that low family income was related to high levels of parental depression, which in turn were associated with disruptive parenting. The findings also showed that social support mediated the adverse relationship between low family income and parental depression. Social support was directly related to positive parenting and indirectly related to parent‐child relational frustration via parental depression. Social support also moderated the indirect relationship between low family income and parenting. Implications for prevention intervention are discussed.     

Paternal involvement in pediatric Type 1 diabetes: fathers' and mothers' psychological functioning and disease management

Psychological functioning in fathers of children with Type 1 diabetes has received relatively little attention compared to mothers. This study examined fathers' perceived involvement in their children's diabetes care as it related to mothers' and fathers' pediatric parenting stress, depression, anxiety, marital satisfaction, and sleep, and to their children's diabetes regimen adherence and glycemic control. Eighty-two mothers and 43 fathers completed questionnaires. Multivariate linear regressions were conducted separately for mothers and fathers to determine the relationships between the perceived amount and the perceived helpfulness of father involvement in child diabetes care on parental psychosocial functioning and child diabetes control. Maternal perceptions of father helpfulness and amount of involvement in illness care were related to improved marital satisfaction and fewer depressive symptoms in mothers. In fathers, perception of their own amount of involvement was related to increased pediatric parenting stress and anxiety. Better child regimen adherence was associated with maternal perceptions of father helpfulness but not the amount of their involvement, while paternal perceptions of their own helpfulness were related to poorer glycemic control. These findings suggest that fathers and mothers may react differently to their roles in childhood illness and that perceptions of their involvement may be differently associated with children's glycemic control and regimen adherence.     

Romantic Partner and Biological Father Support: Associations with Maternal Distress in Low‐Income Mexican‐Origin Families

Paternal support is often linked to lower levels of maternal psychological distress; however, research has seldom considered the increasing numbers of Mexican‐origin families with a romantic partner social (RPS) father (i.e., mothers' partners who are not formally identified as stepfathers). This study applied a bioecological systems framework to test linkages between support from RPS fathers and maternal depressive symptoms and parenting stress and to consider whether nonresident biological father support and instrumental social support moderate these associations. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, the authors analyzed a subsample of Mexican‐origin mothers (N = 76) with 3‐year‐old children. Findings indicated that maternal perceptions of support from RPS fathers were inversely related to depressive symptomatology only when mothers also perceived high levels of support from biological fathers, and the relationship with the RPS father began recently. Neither RPS nor biological father support was associated with maternal parenting stress.     

The relationship between parental overprotection and health-related quality of life in pediatric cancer: the mediating role of perceived child vulnerability

Purpose  

The current study sought to examine the relation of parental overprotection and perceived child vulnerability to parent-reported health-related quality of life in parents of children with cancer.     

Parental Perceptions of Child Vulnerability and Parent Stress as Predictors of Pain and Adjustment in Children With Chronic Arthritis

Parental predictors of child psychological adjustment and pain were investigated in 51 children with arthritis. Children rated depressive symptoms, anxiety, and pain. Disease severity was determined by a physician provided active joint count, as well as a physician's global assessment. Parents rated their own depressive symptoms, stress, and perceptions of child vulnerability. Regression analyses indicated that higher parental perceptions of child vulnerability predicted increased child depressive symptoms and anxiety. Parent stress predicted both child anxiety and pain. Thus, the important role parent variables play in child health outcomes was reinforced, thereby strengthening the indication to assess parent functioning when performing clinical evaluations of adjustment to juvenile arthritis.     

Examining Emotional Distress During Pediatric Hospitalization for School-Aged Children

Emotional distress was examined in 80 schoolaged children during pediatric hospitalization Using multiple regression analyses, childrens depressive and anxious symptoms were positively related to duration of physical symptoms and parental distress Depressive symptoms were negatively related to age and the perceived social support available from the family Unexpectedly, the frequency of medical procedures and previous hospitalization expertences were not associated with depressive or anxious symptoms Because many of the children in this study had experienced enduring symptoms and frequent previous hospitalizations It was hypothesized that they may have habituated and adjusted to many of the experiences of hospitlization and thus were not adversely affected by such experiences.     

A Toddler Parenting Intervention in Primary Care for Caregivers With Depression Symptoms

Caregiver depression impacts parenting behaviors and has deleterious effects on child behavior. Evidence-based interventions to address parenting have not been adapted for use with depressed caregivers in pediatric primary care settings. Our study examined the feasibility and explored outcomes of an evidence-based parenting program implemented in primary care and adapted for caregivers with depressive symptoms caring for toddlers. We conducted a randomized controlled trial with a wait-list control. Participants were caregivers who screened positive for depressive symptoms in pediatric settings with a toddler. Our study was implemented from July 2011 to June 2012. We adapted the Incredible Years Parents, Babies and Toddlers program with the addition of depression psychoeducation (12 weekly sessions), and assessed caregivers at baseline and immediately post-intervention. We assessed participation rates, depressive symptoms, parenting discipline practices, social support, and parenting stress. Our results revealed that 32 caregivers participating in the intervention group had significantly greater improvement in self-reported parenting discipline practices compared to the 29 wait-list control group caregivers. We found no differences between groups in depressive symptoms, social support, or parenting stress. Our study demonstrated that the average attendance was poor (mean attendance = 3.7 sessions). We adapted an evidence-based parenting intervention for caregivers with depressive symptoms and toddlers in primary care; however, participation was challenging. Alternative intervention strategies are needed to reach and retain low-income caregivers with depression symptoms as they face multiple barriers to participation in groups within center-based services. Trial Registration Clinical Trials.gov identifier NCT01464619.     

Does Maternal Parenting Stress Mediate the Association Between Postpartum PTS Symptoms and Children’s Internalizing and Externalizing Problems? A Longitudinal Perspective

Background

The research carried out in the last years outlined that childbirth could be considered as a sufficient stressor for the insurgence of posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms with important consequences for the child care.

Objectives

In a longitudinal perspective, this study focused on PTS symptoms after childbirth to understand their impact on maternal parenting stress and children’s adjustment. First, we investigated whether childbirth-related PTS symptoms, at 87 h and 3 months postpartum, were associated with parenting stress and children’s adjustment at 18 months. Second, we explored, at 18 months, the predictive effects of postpartum PTS symptoms on children’s adjustment and verified the mediational effect of parenting stress this association.

Methods

Eighty-eight women participated and completed the following questionnaires: PPQ (for assessing maternal PTS symptoms at 87 h, 3 and 18 months postpartum), PSI-SF (for maternal parenting stress at 18 months) and CBCL (for children’s adjustment at 18 months).

Results

Findings outlined that more PTS symptoms at 3 months are associated with greater levels of parental distress and they predicted children’s adjustment at 18 months. Moreover, maternal parenting stress explained the predictive effects of childbirth-related PTS symptoms on children’s adjustment. More precisely parental distress partially mediated the association between PTS symptoms and children’s internalizing behaviors, while the perception of the difficult child fully mediated the effects of PTS symptoms on externalizing behaviors.

Conclusion

This study was consistent with the idea that women may experience childbirth-related chronic distress and child adjustment was connected to different sources of parenting stress.

     

The relationship between barriers to care,caregiver distress,and child health-related quality of life in caregivers of children with cancer: A structural equation modeling approach

The current study examined the relationship between demographic variables, treatment factors, and perceived barriers to care to both caregiver distress and caregiver-reported child health-related quality of life in caregivers of children diagnosed with cancer utilizing path analysis. Parental distress is examined as a potential mediator between barriers to care and income, as well as child age and caregiver-reported health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The final model demonstrated close fit to the data. Family income and perceived barriers to care demonstrated direct effects on caregiver distress. Child age, treatment intensity, severity of illness, and caregiver distress also demonstrated direct effects on caregiver-reported HRQOL. These results suggest a significant relationship between burden of care, caregiver functioning, and caregiver-reported child outcomes and support the transactional relationship between caregiver and child functioning.     

The Relationship of Control-Related Beliefs to Depressive Symptomatology Among Children With Type 1 Diabetes and Asthma: A Disease-Specific Approach

The current study examined the relationship of control-related beliefs (i.e., perceived contingency and perceived control) to depressive symptoms across two disease groups. Forty-six children with Type 1 diabetes (DM1) and 46 children with asthma were recruited as part of a larger study examining childhood chronic illnesses. All participants completed measures of perceived contingency, perceived control, and depression. Regression analyses revealed that perceived contingency significantly predicted depressive symptoms among children with DM1, whereas perceived control significantly predicted levels of depressive symptomatology among children with asthma. The results suggest that there are disease-specific differences in the relationship of control-related beliefs to depressive symptoms.     

Reductions in stress and depressive symptoms in mothers of substance-exposed infants, participating in a psychosocial program

OBJECTIVE: Depression profoundly impairs psychosocial functioning. Depression can have disruptive effects on a person's family, with significant impact on the psychosocial development of the children. Recent research suggests that a mother's depressive symptoms may increase parenting stress and that parenting stress may, in turn, increase depressive symptoms, with a possible negative cycle to this process. Little is known about how these two factors interact in drug-involved mothers. This study examines how the NEW CONNECTIONS intervention (a parental education and support program for drug-involved parents) acts on parental stress and symptoms of depression. METHODS: The study site was the NEW CONNECTIONS Infant Intervention Program. The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) were administered to drug- and alcohol-involved mothers (N = 120) at baseline and after the intervention (Week 12). RESULTS: Four of the seven PSI domains of parenting stress showed a significant reduction (Demandingness, Competence, Isolation, and Role Restriction). Changes in four domains were significantly correlated with reductions in depressive symptoms (Competence, Isolation, Attachment, and Role Restriction). There was a significant reduction in depressive symptoms as measured by the BDI-II. CONCLUSION: Reduction in some aspects of parenting stress is associated with reduction in depressive symptoms in mothers of substance-exposed infants who participated in the NEW CONNECTIONS psychosocial intervention targeting the parent-child relationship.     

Effects of time since diagnosis on the association between parent and child distress in families with pediatric cancer

Although parental distress and child distress have been linked in families of children with cancer, how these associations change over time is unknown. The present study examined how the amount of time elapsed since the child’s diagnosis moderates the associations between self-reported parent and child symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress in 255 parent-child dyads. Time since diagnosis moderated the associations between parental symptoms and child-reported anxiety and post-traumatic stress. Dyads farther out from diagnosis exhibited stronger associations between parental and child symptoms. Findings suggest the importance of monitoring the psychological adjustment of parents and children over time.     

Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Distress Among Parents of Children With Cancer

In this study, we compared levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and general psychological distress between parents of childhood cancer survivors and parents of children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1). In this study, we also examined potential risk factors for PTSS. Participants included 47 parents of childhood cancer survivors and 31 parents of children with DM1. Participants completed self-report measures of posttraumatic stress, general psychological distress, coping strategies, social network size, and perceived illness uncertainty. Findings revealed that parents of children surviving cancer reported higher levels of PTSS and general distress than parents of children with DM1. In the total sample, lower levels of emotion-focused coping and greater perceived uncertainty were associated with increased frequency of both PTSS and general psychological distress after we accounted for demographic and illness variables. Having a child with cancer may increase the risk for experiencing PTSS. Interventions are warranted that focus specifically on the reduction of PTSS in parents of children surviving cancer.     

Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Distress Among Parents of Children With Cancer

In this study, we compared levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and general psychological distress between parents of childhood cancer survivors and parents of children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1). In this study, we also examined potential risk factors for PTSS. Participants included 47 parents of childhood cancer survivors and 31 parents of children with DM1. Participants completed self-report measures of posttraumatic stress, general psychological distress, coping strategies, social network size, and perceived illness uncertainty. Findings revealed that parents of children surviving cancer reported higher levels of PTSS and general distress than parents of children with DM1. In the total sample, lower levels of emotion-focused coping and greater perceived uncertainty were associated with increased frequency of both PTSS and general psychological distress after we accounted for demographic and illness variables. Having a child with cancer may increase the risk for experiencing PTSS. Interventions are warranted that focus specifically on the reduction of PTSS in parents of children surviving cancer.     

Depressive symptoms in Chinese elementary school children: child social-cognitive factors and parenting factors

This study examined child cognitive-behavioural factors and parenting factors related to childhood depressive symptoms. Results indicate that positive and negative attributional styles were protective and vulnerable factors of depression symptoms, respectively, and the attribution–depression link was mediated by self-esteem and coping responses. Children who inclined to explain positive outcomes with internal, stable and global factors reported higher self-esteem which predicted adopting seeking social support but not internalization and externalization coping responses. These children reported less depressive symptoms. In contrast, children who explained negative events with internal, stable and global causes developed lower self-esteem and adopted internalization and externalization coping responses which predicted depression in the positive direction. Authoritative parenting style and parental anxiety predicted child depressive symptoms in the negative and positive directions, respectively. The current results solicit the attention of school personnel and professionals to the importance of fostering self-esteem and adaptive attributional style and coping responses in children.