Subjective Well-Being and Parenthood in Chile.

Being a parent plays an important role in people's life trajectory and identity. Though the general cultural perception is that having children is a source of subjective well-being, there is evidence that, at least in some societies, the subjective well-being of those who are parents is worse, in some aspects, than that of those who are not. This gap has been the object of interest and controversy. The aim of this study was to compare Chilean adults with and without children in a broad set of well-being indicators, controlling for other sociodemographic variables. A public national probabilistic database was used. The results show that, in terms of positive and negative affect, those who are not parents achieve greater well-being than those who have children. Other results also pointed in that direction. The implications of the social context and gender, which are aspects that pose a burden for the exercise of parenthood in Chile, are discussed.

Randomized cluster trial of a parenting program in Chile: Key mediators in the decrease in behavior problems in preschool children.

BACKGROUND: Parenting training is a proven strategy for the promotion of positive parenting practices and for the prevention and treatment of behavior problems in children. The processes that explain this efficacy are less clear. The aim of this study was to assess the mediating role of parenting practice modification, encouraged through the implementation of a universal parenting training program, for the decrease of behavior problems in 3- to 6-year-old children. METHOD: A cluster randomized trial was carried out in 19 educational centers in low and middle socioeconomic areas. A total of 178 families received the program and 154 of them were the control group. The following parenting practices were assessed: positive reinforcement, involvement, inconsistency, unsuitable treatment behaviors and physical punishment, as well as hostility and humiliation behaviors. Parent-child interaction was also assessed using an observational instrument. A multiple mediation analysis was carried out, identifying the indirect effects. RESULTS: Reduction of harsh discipline and physical punishment, and parental inconsistency mediated the effects observed in the reduction of child behavior problems during the program. CONCLUSION: Within Chilean families, harsh discipline, physical punishment, and parental inconsistency are important aspects to be considered in the implementation of universal parenting training programs.

Influencia del apoyo social percibido y los factores de personalidad en la satisfacción vital de estudiantes universitarios / Influence of perceived social support and personality factors in vital satisfaction of university students

El presente estudio de tipo descriptivo correlacional, tuvo como propósito examinar la relación de la satisfacción vital con el apoyo social percibido y los cinco grandes factores de personalidad, en estudiantes de la Universidad de Concepción. La muestra estuvo conformada por 353 universitarios de ambos sexos. Los resultados mostraron que los universitarios presentaban niveles relativamente altos de apoyo social percibido y satisfacción vital. El apoyo social percibido se relacionó de manera significativa con la satisfacción vital. A su vez, esta última mostró una relación negativa con neuroticismo y relaciones positivas con extraversión, responsabilidad y amabilidad. El apoyo social y el neuroticismo fueron las principales variables predictoras de la satisfacción vital, siendo algo mayor la influencia relativa del apoyo social. Se proponen posibles explicaciones para los resultados encontrados.

This study examined the relationship of life satisfaction with perceived social support and personality factors in 353 male and female students from the University of Concepcion (Chile). Results showed high levels of perceived social support and life satisfaction in this sample. Social support had significant positive relationships with life satisfaction. Life satisfaction had negative relationship with neuroticism and direct relationships with extraversion, conscientiousness and agreeableness. Social support and neuroticism were the main predictors of vital satisfaction, with social support having higher relative influence. Diverse explanatory factors for obtained results are proposed.