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BACKGROUND: Within the NICU, there is a delicate equilibrium between providing assistance to parents by nurses and prioritising family-centred care (FCC). The FCC assumes the role of a mediator, effectively conveying compassion. The intricate dynamics between FCC, parental nurse support, and parental stress in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) necessitate comprehensive investigation. OBJECTIVE: This study examines the mediating effect of FCC on the relationship between parental nurse support and parental stress in NICUs. METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study used convenience sampling to select 223 parents (202 mothers) from Mansoura City hospitals in Egypt. Data were collected using the Nurse Parent Support Tool (NPST), Family-Centered Care Self-Assessment Tool (FCCS-NICU), and the Parental Stressor Scale: NICU (PSS: NICU). Mediation analysis was used to examine the relationships between variables. RESULTS: Nurse support was positively associated with FCC (ß = 0.81, p < 0.001) and negatively related to parental stress (ß=-1.156, p < 0.001). FCC was found to reduce parental stress (ß=-0.18, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis confirmed that FCC partially mediated the relationship between nurse support and parental stress (indirect effect ß = 0.145, 95% CI: 0.055-1.007). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights a significant association in the mediating role of FCC between nurse support and parental stress. Strengthening FCC practices can be an effective strategy for nurses to support parents and alleviate their stress in NICU settings. IMPLICATIONS TO PRACTICE: NICUs should implement FCC-oriented training for nurses, foster a culture that supports FCC principles, and develop policies to establish FCC as a cornerstone of neonatal care.
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Background: The primary aims of our cross-sectional observational study were: (i) to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in children and adolescents with epilepsy compared to controls and (ii) to explore the difference in depressive symptoms in patients with epilepsy only and those with epilepsy and primary headache as a comorbidity. The secondary objective was to explore parental stress levels. Methods: 68 pediatric patients aged 6-18 years (44 with epilepsy only and 24 with epilepsy and headache) and 50 controls were recruited. Depressive profile and parental stress were assessed using Children's Depression Inventory, Second Edition (CDI-2) and Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF). Results: The group with epilepsy showed significantly high depressive symptoms and parental stress compared to controls. The patients with headache in comorbidity experienced more depressive symptoms than those with epilepsy only. Conclusion: Depressive symptoms are more prevalent in patients who have comorbid epilepsy and primary headache; therefore, the neurological/psychological mechanisms underlying this condition should be further investigated. The simultaneous presence of epilepsy, headache and depressive symptoms impacts the quality of life of patients and their parents, increasing parental stress and family management.
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BACKGROUND: Parents of children on the autism spectrum often face great challenges in the care of their child. Early support tailored to families' individual needs is therefore crucial for the development and quality of life of both children on the autism spectrum and their families. However, to date it is unclear whether the support available meets the parents' needs. STUDY AIM: To investigate how the system of care, support, and therapies for children on the autism spectrum is perceived by their parents. METHOD: A total of 57 parents of Swiss children on the autism spectrum participated in an online survey, and 20 of them participated in additional semi-structured interviews. RESULTS: We found that parents of children on the autism spectrum may face substantial challenges and that social support is essential. Two thirds of the participating parents reported a long and difficult diagnostic process as challenging, and 60% expressed their need for closer follow-up after diagnosis and more support. Only one third of the parents stated that they manage their everyday lives well, whereas 17.5% felt exhausted, and more than half of the parents responded that they felt challenged. One fifth indicated that they had poor family support, and half reported substantial financial challenges. At the same time, most families also emphasize how important their neurodivergent children are to the family`s life together. CONCLUSION: It is important that primary pediatricians not only initiate the diagnostic process, but also assess the different needs of the different family independent of the diagnosis and, if necessary, initiate adequate measures or guide parents to institutions in charge. Parents who do not actively express their individual needs should nevertheless be advised about support services, including financial counseling. The positive aspects mentioned by families can be emphasized and used as resources to improve their quality of life.
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Transtorno do Espectro Autista , Pais , Apoio Social , Humanos , Pais/psicologia , Transtorno do Espectro Autista/psicologia , Transtorno do Espectro Autista/diagnóstico , Transtorno do Espectro Autista/terapia , Masculino , Feminino , Criança , Adulto , Suíça , Qualidade de Vida , Pré-Escolar , Adolescente , Necessidades e Demandas de Serviços de Saúde , Avaliação das Necessidades , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
Increased maternal mental health during the perinatal period has been widely associated with a variety of positive outcomes for both mothers and infants. However, no studies in Peru have yet focused on studying maternal mental health and related psychological variables during this stage. Thus, the aim of this study was to test a model to associate a mother's parental stress with infant socioemotional difficulties and maternal mental health. The sample included 988 mothers of infants aged 6 to 18 months from Peru, all from socioeconomically vulnerable settings. The findings showed that infant socioemotional difficulties were associated with poorer maternal mental health through the mother's parental stress (χ2(7) = 28.89, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.98, RMSEA = 0.06, SRMR = 0.03). These results provide a better understanding of the key elements associated with maternal mental health during the perinatal period in Peru and offer valuable insights for developing interventions and support strategies for socioeconomically vulnerable mothers and their young children.
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Saúde Mental , Mães , Estresse Psicológico , Humanos , Peru/epidemiologia , Feminino , Lactente , Mães/psicologia , Adulto , Populações Vulneráveis/psicologia , Desenvolvimento Infantil , Masculino , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Adulto Jovem , GravidezRESUMO
PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the factors predictive of technology addiction in young children (aged 2-5 years). The study examined the effects of digital parenting awareness, parental stress, family demographic characteristics and parents' technology use habits on technology addiction in young children. DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2023 and February 2024 with 401 volunteer parents of children aged 2-5 years in a province in the Western Mediterranean region of Turkey. Data were collected using the Technology Addiction Scale for Ages 2-5, the Digital Parental Awareness Scale, and the Parental Stress Scale. RESULTS: Digital parenting awareness, negative modeling and digital neglect, and parental stress positively and directly affect technology addiction in young children (ß1 = 0.166, ß2 = 0.443, ß3 = 0.087, all p < 0.05). Additionally, parental gender (ß = 0.095), parental marital status (ß = 0.092), and household income (ß = 0.088) were significant predictors of technology addiction in young children (p < 0.05). The level of technology addiction is significantly higher in children who use devices without parental controls (Z = -6.187, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Low digital parenting awareness, high parental stress, male caregivers, low household income and single-parent families in digital tools increase the risk of technology addiction in young children (2-5 years). Multidisciplinary, family-oriented intervention programs, incorporating consideration of parental risk factors, should be developed to prevent and reduce technology addiction in this group.
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Early-life positive and adverse parental factors, such as positive parent personality and parental stress, affect the environmental context in which children develop and may influence individual differences in children's sleep health. This study examined the moderating role of early-life parental factors in the heritability (i.e., the extent to which individual differences are due to genetic influences) of objectively assessed childhood sleep duration. A total of 351 families from the Arizona Twin Project were studied. Primary caregivers (95% mothers) reported on multiple dimensions of stress and facets of their own personality when the twins were 12 months old. Seven years later (Mage = 8.43 years, SD = 0.68), families completed a home visit, and twins (51% female; 57% White, 29% Hispanic; 30% monozygotic, 39% same-sex dizygotic, 31% other-sex dizygotic) wore actigraph watches to assess their sleep, with caregivers completing similar assessments on their personality attributes and stress. Early-life positive parent personality moderated the heritability of sleep duration (Δ-2LL [-2 log likelihood] = 2.54, Δdf = 2, p = .28), such that as positive parent personality increased, the heritability of duration decreased. Early-life parental stress also moderated the genetic contribution to sleep duration (Δ-2LL = 2.02, Δdf = 2, p = .36), such that as stress increased, the heritability of duration increased. Concurrent positive parent personality and parental stress composites showed similar patterns of findings. Results highlight the likely contribution of parent positive traits and adverse experiences to the etiology of children's sleep health, with genetic influences on children's sleep more prominent in "riskier" environments. Understanding how genetics and environments work together to influence the etiology of sleep may inform prevention programs.
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Sono , Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Criança , Sono/genética , Sono/fisiologia , Pais/psicologia , Personalidade/genética , Estresse Psicológico/psicologia , Estresse Psicológico/genética , Interação Gene-Ambiente , Arizona , Lactente , Actigrafia , Duração do SonoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Studies have revealed that Children's psychological, behavioral, and emotional problems are easily influenced by the family environment. In recent years, the family structure in China has undergone significant changes, with more families having two or three children. AIM: To explore the relationship between emotional behavior and parental job stress in only preschool and non-only preschool children. METHODS: Children aged 3-6 in kindergartens in four main urban areas of Shijiazhuang were selected by stratified sampling for a questionnaire and divided into only and non-only child groups. Their emotional behaviors and parental pressure were compared. Only and non-only children were paired in a 1:1 ratio by class and age (difference less than or equal to 6 months), and the matched data were compared. The relationship between children's emotional behavior and parents' job stress before and after matching was analyzed. RESULTS: Before matching, the mother's occupation, children's personality characteristics, and children's rearing patterns differed between the groups (P < 0.05). After matching 550 pairs, differences in the children's parenting styles remained. There were significant differences in children's gender and parents' attitudes toward children between the two groups. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) scores of children in the only child group and the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF) scores of parents were significantly lower than those in the non-only child group (P < 0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that after matching, there was a positive correlation between children's parenting style and parents' attitudes toward their children (r = 0.096, P < 0.01), and the PSI-SF score was positively correlated with children's gender, parents' attitudes toward their children, and SDQ scores (r = 0.077, 0.193, 0.172, 0.222). CONCLUSION: Preschool children's emotional behavior and parental pressure were significantly higher in multi-child families. Parental pressure in differently structured families was associated with many factors, and preschool children's emotional behavior was positively correlated with parental pressure.
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BACKGROUND: While there are several parenting programs for NICU caregivers, no studies, to our knowledge, have developed parenting programs aimed at preventing child maltreatment that specifically address these parental factors: parental stress, parental self-efficacy, and positive parent-infant interaction. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to: 1) Identify adaptations and/or augmentations needed to optimize SafeCare® for NICU caregivers, and 2) Examine the acceptability and preliminary effects of the adapted SafeCare NICU (SCNC) program with NICU caregivers. METHODS: This study consisted of two phases: formative (phase one) and pilot (phase two). For phase one, 5 NICU former caregivers and 5 NICU staff were interviewed to make relevant, NICU-specific adaptations for SCNC. Phase two consisted of a pilot study, where 13 current NICU caregivers were enrolled in the adapted SCNC program. Outcomes included acceptability and preliminary effects of parental stress, parental self-efficacy, and parent-infant interaction. RESULTS: Adaptations to SafeCare consisted of adding a pre-session to discuss individualized experiences, incorporation of adjusted developmental milestones, a NICU-specific resource sheet, and individualized adaptations to activities based on relevant medical concerns. Out of the 13 participants, 8 completed SCNC (61.5 % retention rate). Participants indicated significant reductions in stress after SCNC (Parental stress index score = 61.7) compared to baseline (79.2, p = 0.02). Among participants who completed SCNC (n = 8), all stated they supported this program for implementation among NICU caregivers. DISCUSSION: The adapted SCNC demonstrated acceptability among NICU caregivers.
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Cuidadores , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal , Poder Familiar , Humanos , Recém-Nascido , Cuidadores/psicologia , Feminino , Masculino , Adulto , Poder Familiar/psicologia , Projetos Piloto , Lactente , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Pais/psicologia , Pais/educaçãoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The pandemic and the associated consequences have been ongoing stressors with severe impacts on the population and particularly on families. Research focusing on groups dealing well with the challenges of the pandemic is scarce. Here, we aimed to identify groups being well-adjusted during the pandemic and associated predictors. METHODS: A representative sample of the German population (N = 2,515, 51.6% women, 50.09 years), and a subsample of persons with children or adolescents under the age of 18 (N = 453, 60.3% women, 40.08 years) was assessed from July to October 2021. As huge differences in coping with the pandemic are seen, cluster analysis was performed. RESULTS: Persons in the "well-adjusted cluster" were characterized by higher quality of life, better coping with the pandemic and lower burden of the pandemic. The family subsample well-adjusted cluster was characterized by lower pandemic-associated burden, lower parental stress compared to before the pandemic and a better relationship with the child. Fewer mental health symptoms and less pandemic-associated negative impact on career predicted membership of the well-adjusted cluster in both samples. An interaction between mental health symptoms and the negative impact of COVID-19 on the career was found. CONCLUSIONS: Our results underscore the importance of mental health and work-related factors for coping with the pandemic.
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Adaptação Psicológica , COVID-19 , Humanos , COVID-19/epidemiologia , COVID-19/psicologia , Feminino , Masculino , Alemanha/epidemiologia , Adulto , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Adolescente , Qualidade de Vida , Pandemias , Criança , Idoso , Adulto Jovem , Efeitos Psicossociais da Doença , Inquéritos e Questionários , Estresse Psicológico/epidemiologia , Análise por ConglomeradosRESUMO
Understanding the extent to which youth and families experienced COVID-related stress requires accounting for prior levels of stress and other associated factors. This is especially important for military families, which experience unique stressors and may be reluctant to seek outside help. In this prospective study, we examined the role of pre-pandemic family factors in predicting parent and youth stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were 234 families with at least one active-duty parent and a 3rd or 5th-grade child. Findings revealed that preexisting factors predicted youth and family COVID-related stress. Specifically, heightened pre-pandemic parental stress and youth internalizing symptoms were significant predictors of COVID-related stress. Implications for mental health professionals and other organizations supporting military parents and families during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as other times of upheaval are discussed.
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COVID-19 , Família Militar , Pais , Estresse Psicológico , Humanos , COVID-19/psicologia , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Feminino , Masculino , Criança , Pais/psicologia , Estresse Psicológico/psicologia , Família Militar/psicologia , Adulto , Estudos Prospectivos , Militares/psicologia , AdolescenteRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Most new parents spend the first few days with their newborns in the hospital. PROBLEM: Although negative hospital care experiences can have short- and long-term negative consequences (e.g., risk of postnatal depression), only a handful of studies have investigated experiences of maternity care after birth. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim was to gather more detailed information on the experiences during the immediate postpartum period at the maternity ward, in order to confirm and complement previous findings with additional data sources. METHODS: A content analysis was conducted on 524 textual units comprising ratings of maternity care units in Germany provided by mothers or accompanying individuals. These units were sourced from a publicly accessible website. FINDINGS: The analysis identified three overarching themes that influenced positive or negative experiences: Hospital and Maternity Ward Infrastructure; Midwifery, Medical, and Nursing Care; and Breastfeeding and Establishing a Breastfeeding Relationship. DISCUSSION: The findings indicate systemic challenges within the medical system, including persistent issues such as staff shortages and overworked personnel. Additionally, critical primary support structures related to early parental mental health care and breastfeeding initiation were found to be lacking in certain hospitals. CONCLUSION: These results underscore the necessity for structural reforms within hospitals to establish a comprehensive prevention network capable of early problem detection and intervention.
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Hospitalização , Pesquisa Qualitativa , Humanos , Feminino , Alemanha , Adulto , Gravidez , Hospitalização/estatística & dados numéricos , Mães/psicologia , Mães/estatística & dados numéricos , Recém-Nascido , Período Pós-Parto/psicologiaRESUMO
Introduction Epistaxis, or nosebleeds, is a common pediatric emergency, impacting their quality of life (QoL). Existing research on epistaxis has predominantly focused on clinical aspects, overlooking its broader impact on the quality of life of affected children and the functioning of their families. This study seeks to fill that gap by assessing the impact of recurrent epistaxis on children's QoL, family dynamics, and parental stress in Saudi Arabia's Eastern region. Methods A survey was conducted involving 168 parents of children with recurrent epistaxis, using the Pediatric Quality of Life InventoryTM (PedsQL 4.0TM) Short Form (SF) for QoL assessment across different age groups, the PedsQL 2.0 Family Impact Module to evaluate the effect of the child's health on family dynamics, and a custom questionnaire for gathering sociodemographic and health-related information. Better QoL and family functioning were indicated by higher scores. Results Recurrent epistaxis was more frequent (>4 times per year) in 58.9% of cases, with unknown causes in 72%. A total of 116 (69%) of the children never needed medical intervention for epistaxis and 52 (31%) visited ER 1-2 times. The lowest scores for both children and parents were in the emotional functioning domains (77.9 and 78.2, respectively). In the study, both parents and children who had no history of ER visits exhibited significantly higher quality of life (QoL) scores compared to those who did, with parents reporting 83.7% versus 77.2% (P=.022), and children showing 84.6% versus 79.9% (P=.049), respectively. Parents of older children, ages 13-18 years, reported a higher Quality of Life (QoL) at 83.9%, compared to those with younger children, ages 2-4 years, who reported a QoL of 57.3% (P=.003). Conclusion The overall QoL scores of families of children with recurrent epistaxis were relatively high, indicating a variable and limited general impact. Significantly higher QoL was observed in families of older children and those without ER visits.
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Parents of children with ASD are at risk for chronic stress due to challenging parenting. It is unknown whether stress is already present in early parenthood, similar for mothers and fathers and if this impacts quality of life (QoL). Parental stress and QoL were assessed in 56 mothers and 51 fathers of young children (aged 3 to 7) with autism. Associations between parental stress (OBVL) and QoL (WHOQoL-BREF) were examined. Parents of young children with ASD appear to have high parental stress from conflicting feelings towards their child and from difficulties with parenting. Mothers have higher stress from feeling confined in their motherly role than fathers compared to the OBVL norm population. Both mothers and fathers have a low QoL. Increased maternal conflicting feelings towards the child associated with lower psychological QoL, while high maternal feelings of role confinement associated with low physical QoL. Increased paternal conflicting feelings towards their child related to lower physical and social QoL, while fathers with more parenting difficulties reported less satisfaction with their psychological and environmental wellbeing. Thus, already at young age, parenting children with ASD is a major challenge for both mothers and fathers.
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Roma living in marginalised communities are among the most disadvantaged groups in Slovakia. Socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with higher hair cortisol concentrations (HCC), including in parents. The aim of this study is therefore to assess differences in HCC, reflecting the levels of stress, between mothers living in MRCs and from the majority population, to assess the association of socioeconomic disadvantage with HCC, and whether disadvantage mediates the MRC/majority differences in HCC. Participants were mothers of children aged 15-18 months old living in MRCs (N=61) and from the Slovak majority population (N=90). During preventive paediatric visits, visits at community centres and home visits, hair samples and data by questionnaire were collected. HCC differed significantly between mothers living in MRCs and mothers from the majority population, with the mean HCC value being twice as high in mothers living in MRCs (22.98 (95% confidence interval, CI, 15.70-30.30) vs. 11.76 (8.34-15.20), p<0.05). HCC was significantly associated with education, household equipment and household overcrowding, but not with billing, socioeconomic stress and social support. The difference in HCC between mothers living in MRCs and mothers from the majority population was partially mediated by poor house equipment, such as no access to running water, no flushing toilet or no bathroom (the indirect effect of B=7.63 (95% CI: 2.12-13.92)). Practitioners and policymakers should be aware of high stress levels among mothers living in MRCs and aim at enhancing their living and housing conditions.
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Cabelo , Hidrocortisona , Mães , Roma (Grupo Étnico) , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Estresse Psicológico , Humanos , Feminino , Cabelo/química , Hidrocortisona/análise , Hidrocortisona/metabolismo , Mães/psicologia , Estresse Psicológico/metabolismo , Adulto , Eslováquia , Lactente , Populações Vulneráveis/psicologia , Masculino , Apoio Social , Marginalização Social/psicologia , Disparidades Socioeconômicas em SaúdeRESUMO
Parental burnout (PB) is characterised by parental exhaustion resulting from exposure to chronic parental stress. Due to the social and economic changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic that impacted families, there is a significant scientific interest in identifying factors related to PB within the pandemic context. This study aimed to analyse the relationships between parental stress (parental concerns, parental satisfaction, lack of control, and fears and anxieties), family functioning, psychological morbidity (anxiety and depression), and burnout in parents. The sample consisted of 253 parents, legal guardians or primary caregivers of children aged between 0 and 6 years. Results revealed that the child's age, psychological morbidity (depression), and parental stress were significant predictors of PB. Anxiety and family functioning played a moderating role in the relationship between parental satisfaction and PB. According to the results, intervention programs should focus on anxiety symptoms and family functioning to mitigate the effects of parental stress on PB.
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Despite having the same underlying genetic etiology, individuals with the same syndromic form of intellectual developmental disability (IDD) show a large degree of interindividual differences in cognition and IQ. Research indicates that up to 80% of the variation in IQ scores among individuals with syndromic IDDs is attributable to nongenetic effects, including social-environmental factors. In this narrative review, we summarize evidence of the influence that factors related to economic stability (focused on due to its prevalence in existing literature) have on IQ in individuals with syndromic IDDs. We also highlight the pathways through which economic stability is hypothesized to impact cognitive development and drive individual differences in IQ among individuals with syndromic IDDs. We also identify broader social-environmental factors (e.g., social determinants of health) that warrant consideration in future research, but that have not yet been explored in syndromic IDDs. We conclude by making recommendations to address the urgent need for further research into other salient factors associated with heterogeneity in IQ. These recommendations ultimately may shape individual- and community-level interventions and may inform systems-level public policy efforts to promote the cognitive development of and improve the lived experiences of individuals with syndromic IDDs.
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Background: Identification of mental health disorders during childhood is crucial for healthy 'adult roles' in the society, so this study aimed to estimate the magnitude of 'any mental health disorder' and to find out its correlates among children attending the pediatric out-patient department (OPD) of a medical college in West Bengal and to estimate parental stress among their parents. Materials and Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study done in the pediatric OPD of Burdwan Medical College, West Bengal, during July-December, 2021. The calculated size of 288 children aged between 4 and 12 years and attending with either of their parents was selected through systematic random sampling. One of their parents (preferably mother) was interviewed using a schedule, containing a pre-validated pediatric symptom checklist and parental stress scale. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Data were analyzed using SPSS-v23. Results: The median age of the children was 7 years (5-8 y.). The majority of them were male (57.6%), lived in urban areas (59.0%), and lived in joint families (57.6%). One-fifth (20.5%) of the children were found to have any mental health disorder (AMHD). Living in an urban area (aOR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.1-5.7), belonging to a nuclear family (aOR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.7-8.1), and belonging to a family with social problems (aOR = 7.8, 95% CI: 2.3-27.2) were significant correlates of AMHD. Parental stress [median: 60 (55-63)] was found significantly higher (P < 0.001) among parents of children with AMHD as compared to the parents of others. Conclusion: The magnitude of AMHD was high in this study, indicating toward the necessity of implementing opportunistic screening and appropriate public health action.
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OBJECTIVE: Empirical evidence underscores an association between parental stress and emotional and behavioral problems in offspring. However, a comprehensive systematic review or meta-analysis on this topic is lacking. Thus, this study aims to address the scientific inquiry: Is there a relationship between parental stress and emotional/behavioral problems in children? SOURCES: This systematic review with a meta-analysis surveyed PubMed, PsycINFO, and the Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde between August and September 2021. The present search combined terms (school-age children) AND (parental stress OR parenting stress OR family stress) AND (emotional and behavioral problems OR internalizing and externalizing problems). Eligibility criteria encompassed cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies published within the last five years, exploring the association between parental stress (stressful life events and parenthood-related stress disorders) and emotional/behavioral problems in school-age children. PROSPERO ID CRD42022274034. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS: Of the 24 studies meeting all inclusion criteria (n = 31,183) for the systematic review, nine were eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed an association between parental stress and emotional problems (COR: 0.46 [95 % CI: 0.27 - 0.61], p < 0.001, Heterogeneity = 89 %) as well as behavioral problems (COR: 0.37 [95 % CI: 0.27 - 0.46], p < 0.001, Heterogeneity = 76 %). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that parental stress predicts emotional/behavioral problems in school-age children. Since these problems are related to long-term negative effects in adulthood, these results are crucial for preventing mental health problems in offspring and for screening and managing parental stress.
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Background: Parents of children with neurodevelopmental conditions (NDC) are at risk of experiencing elevated levels of parental stress. Access to robust instruments to assess parental stress is important in both clinical and research contexts. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of a Swedish version of the Parental Stress Scale (PSS), completed by parents of 3- to 17-year-old children, with and without NDCs. Method: Main analyses were conducted on data from three independent samples: a community sample (n=1018), a treatment-seeking sample of parents of children with various disabilities (n=653), and a sample of parents of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) who themselves reported varying ADHD symptom severities (n=562). Additional analyses were enabled by the use of data from a complementary test-retest sample (n=337). Results: The internal consistency of the PSS was good (Cronbach's alpha, α=.87) and its test-retest reliability moderate (ICC=.66). The scale correlated in the expected direction with related constructs (r=.50-.56 in the community sample). An exploratory factor analysis found its internal structure to reflect two aspects of parental stress: Lack of Parental Rewards and Role Satisfaction (factor 1, α=.90) and Parental Stressors and Distress (factor 2, α=.85). The treatment-seeking parents of children with disabilities reported higher parental stress than community reference parents (p<.001; Cohen's d=1.17). Moreover, we found that parents with high ADHD symptom severity reported higher parental stress than parents with low ADHD symptom severity (p<.001; d=0.39). Conclusion: In summary, we found evidence in support of the reliability and validity of the PSS, which overall was judged to be useful as a measure of parental stress in a Swedish context. In addition, our results underline the importance of considering parental stress and related needs in assessments and intervention planning involving families of children with NDCs.
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OBJECTIVE: Stress levels among caregivers of children with hearing loss could influence caregiver-child interactions and ultimately, children's developmental outcomes. Given the limited understanding of stress levels among caregivers of Australian children with hearing loss, the present study aimed to examine stress in caregivers of 5-year-old children with hearing loss wearing hearing aids or cochlear implants and to identify factors associated with greater stress levels. METHODS: A total of 99 caregivers of 70 hearing aid users and 29 cochlear implant users participated in the study. Caregivers' stress was measured using the 68-item Pediatric Hearing Impairment Caregiver Experience (PHICE) questionnaire that examines caregivers' context-specific stress levels in relation to caring for a child with hearing loss. Factors contributing to stress were identified in relation to eight domains including communication, education, emotional well-being, equipment, financial, healthcare, social, and support. RESULTS: Across domains, the three most common predictors of increased stress were the use of cochlear implants over hearing aids, use of sign and oral language (mixed) over oral language as the communication mode at home, and increased behavioural difficulties of the child. CONCLUSION: Overall, reported stress levels among Australian caregivers were low. Identified factors influencing stress levels can inform service provision improvement.