Exploring the interplay: Maternal electronic health literacy and its impact on early childhood development and parenting practices.

BACKGROUND: Mothers need a competent electronic health literacy (eHL) skill for beneficial gains for the health of their children in the virtual environment, which is a new health platform. We predict that a competent eHL of mothers who play a central role in early childhood will positively affect the health of their children. This study aimed to determine the level of eHL of mothers of young children and investigate the relationship between mothers' eHL and early childhood development (ECD) and early parenting practices (EPP). METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on mothers with children aged 36-59 months using eHealth. Sociodemographic and personal characteristics form, Early Childhood Development Module and eHealth Literacy Scale were administered to the participating mothers. RESULTS: The data from 440 mother-child pairs were analysed. Children of mothers with sufficient eHL levels were more likely to be Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI)-on-track, adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.16 (1.29-3.61); have adequate support in learning, AOR (%95 CI): 3.23 (1.69-6.18); and have adequate daily meals and snacks, AOR (%95 CI): 2.43 (1.56-3.78). CONCLUSION: These results revealed that there is a need for interventions that will contribute to child health by improving mothers' eHL levels.

Parental styles and aggressive beliefs. The mediating role of affects / Estilos parentales y creencias agresivas. El papel mediador de los afectos

Los estilos de crianza (autoritario, democrático, permisivo y negligente) juegan un papel clave en el desarrollo personal y pueden estar relacionados con creencias y afectos agresivos en el individuo. Para examinar esta relación, 769 sujetos (359 hombres; 46.68%), con una edad promedio de 21.89 años, DT= 2.65, fueron evaluados en términos de estilos de crianza, creencias agresivas y afectos; También se exploró el papel mediador de los afectos en la relación entre creencias agresivas y estilos de crianza. El estudio reveló que estos constructos están interrelacionados. Se encontró que el estilo de crianza democrático era el más extendido. En términos de género, los estilos autoritativos se utilizaron con mayor frecuencia en hombres que en mujeres, entre los cuales el estilo permisivo fue el más común. No se encontraron diferencias de género significativas en cuanto a los estilos de crianza democráticos y negligentes. Se reveló que las mujeres estaban más expuestas a los afectos negativos y que las creencias agresivas eran más prevalentes en los hombres. Los niños educados según un estilo democrático obtuvieron puntuaciones más altas en afectos positivos y más bajas en creencias agresivas. Los estilos autoritativos tienden a conducir a puntuaciones superiores a la media en afectos positivos y creencias agresivas. Además, una de cada cinco personas educadas según un estilo permisivo obtiene una puntuación alta en afecto negativo, y una de cada cuatro personas educadas según un estilo negligente obtiene puntuaciones altas en creencias agresivas. Finalmente, se descubrió que los estilos de crianza tienen un efecto directo sobre las creencias agresivas, efecto potenciado por el papel mediador que desempeñan los afectos. En conclusión, el estudio sugiere que los estilos de crianza están relacionados con creencias y afectos agresivos. Además, se demostró que los afectos desempeñan un papel mediador en la relación entre los estilos de crianza y las creencias agresivas. Finalmente, vale la pena enfatizar que, debido a las implicaciones de gran alcance que los estilos de crianza tienen en el desarrollo psicológico, social y personal del individuo, es necesario realizar más investigaciones, no sólo para examinar su relación con los afectos y las creencias agresivas, sino también también con otras variables psicológicas implicadas en el desarrollo personal.(AU)

Parenting stiles (authoritative, democratic, permissive and ne-glectful) play a key role in personal development and can be related to ag-gressive beliefs and affects in the individual. In order to examine this rela-tionship, 769 subjects (359 men; 46.68%), with an average age of 21.89 years, SD= 2.65, were assessed in terms of parenting styles, aggressive be-liefs and affects; the mediating role of affects in the relationship between aggressive beliefs and parenting styles was also explored. The study re-vealed that these constructs are interrelated. The democratic parenting style was found to be the most widespread. In terms of gender, authorita-tive styles were used more often on men than on women, among which the permissive style was the most common. No significant gender differ-ences were found concerning democratic and neglectful parenting styles. Women were revealed to be more exposed to negative affects, and aggres-sive beliefs were found to be more prevalent in men. Children educated according to a democratic style scored higher in positive affects and lower in aggressive beliefs. Authoritative styles tend to lead to above-average scores in positive affects and aggressive beliefs. In addition, one in five people educated according to a permissive style returns a high negative af-fect score, and one in four people educated according to a neglectful style yields high scores in aggressive beliefs. Finally, parenting styles were found to have a direct effect on aggressive beliefs, an effect enhanced by the me-diating role played by affects. In conclusion, the study suggests that parent-ing styles are related to aggressive beliefs and affects. In addition, affects were shown to play a mediating role in the relationship between parenting styles and aggressive beliefs. Finally, it is worth emphasising that, owing to the far-reaching implications of parenting styles on the psychological, so-cial and personal development of the individual, more research needs to be undertaken, not only to examine their relationship with affects and aggres-sive beliefs, but also with other psychological variables involved in person-al development.(AU)

Maternal Depressive Symptoms in the First Year after Childbirth Predict Long-Term Developmental Risks in Sons and Daughters.

Under-diagnosed and thus under-treated, maternal depression remains the most common complication of childbearing. Varying symptoms suggest persistence up to more than a decade following childbirth. This implies distinct vulnerabilities for the physical and emotional care of children. Using a prospective-longitudinal sex-stratified birth cohort of 2120 infants, we examined the relationship between early maternal depression symptoms and subsequent child psycho-social and relational characteristics. Mothers self-reported the severity and frequency of depressive symptoms 5 months after childbirth. Parents, teachers, and target participants reported on child mental health and relationships with adults, from kindergarten to tenth grade. A series of least-squares regressions were estimated, while controlling for pre-existing/concurrent child and family confounds. Both sons and daughters of mothers with more depressive symptoms were at risk of experiencing greater psycho-social impairment, classroom rule defiance, difficult relationships with teachers, less enjoyable mealtimes (age 6 years) and sleep, and coercive or inconsistent parenting practices in childhood and adolescence. For boys, these prospective associations were mostly consistent through ages 12 and 15 years. Girls also experienced more problematic interactions through to age 15 years. This study provides observations of distinct long-term vulnerabilities for sons and daughters in association with early maternal distress at important transitional periods of development in early, middle, and later childhood.

Understanding the relationships between acculturation, food insecurity, and food parenting practices among socioeconomically/racially diverse parents.

Research suggests that acculturation and food insecurity are factors that are separately associated with the use of specific food parenting practices among United States (US) families. Certain food parenting practices, such as coercive control and unstructured food parenting practices, are related to negative health consequences in children, such as disordered eating behaviors. The current study aimed to explore associations between acculturation strategies and food parenting practices in a sample of 577 Latinx, Hmong, Somali/Ethiopian, and Multiracial families. A secondary objective was to understand whether food security status significantly modified the relationships between acculturation strategies and food parenting practices. Results showed that acculturation strategies were significantly related to food parenting practices, and patterns in these relationships differed across race and ethnicity. Further, food security status significantly modified the relationship between acculturation strategies and food parenting practices for Latinx, Hmong, and Somali/Ethiopian families, but not for Multiracial families. These results point to the complex relationships among acculturation strategies, food security status, and food parenting practices in immigrant populations in the US. Longitudinal studies exploring the temporal relationships between acculturation strategies, food security status, and food parenting practices would help tease apart how food parenting practices may evolve upon migrating to the US.

The Family Game to support parents with intellectual disability in managing challenging behaviours: A replication.

BACKGROUND: Although many parents with intellectual disability (ID) demonstrate good parenting practices, some parents experience difficulties in managing challenging behaviours. One potential solution to this issue involves using The Family Game, a program designed to teach parents with ID how to manage challenging behaviours in their child. AIMS: The purpose of our study was to conduct an independent replication of an investigation that had been performed by the developer of the program. MATERIALS & METHODS: We used a multiple baseline design to examine the effects of The Family Game on the behaviour of two parents with ID who had a 3-year-old child. RESULTS: Similarly to the original study, our results indicate that The Family Game improved the use of effective parenting strategies during role play, but that these gains failed to generalise to real-life settings. CONCLUSION: The study further supports the necessity of adding novel strategies to the game to better promote generalisation.

Parenting Practices and Externalizing Behaviors in Autistic Children: A Systematic Literature Review.

There is limited recent research on the association between parenting practices and externalizing behaviors in autistic children. To address this gap, the current systematic review examined the associations between parenting practices and externalizing behaviors in autistic children, along with the mediating and moderating effects of parent and child variables (PROSPERO registration number CRD42022268667). Study inclusion criteria were (1) Peer-reviewed journals, (2) Participants included parents of autistic children and their children, (3) Quantitative measures of both parenting practices or behaviors/style and child externalizing behaviors, (4) Cross-sectional or longitudinal studies only, and (5) Studies published in English. Study exclusion criteria were: (1) Qualitative studies, (2) Published in a language other than English, (3) Participants included non-human participants, (4) Participants that did not include parents and their autistic children as participants or did not report this group separately, (5) Systematic review and meta-analyses, and (6) No quantitative measures of parenting practices and/or child externalizing behaviors. Quality appraisal and risk of bias were conducted using the McMaster Tool and results were synthesized in Covidence and Excel. Thirty studies were included in the review. Results demonstrated that mindful parenting was associated with fewer or lower levels of externalizing behaviors; positive parenting practices had non-significant associations with externalizing behaviors; specific parenting practices had differing associations with externalizing behaviors; and negative parenting practices were associated with higher levels of externalizing behaviors. We are unable to draw causal relationships due to focus on cross-sectional and longitudinal articles only. The potential for future research to target specific parent practices to support children's externalizing behaviors is discussed.

Community-Delivered Evidence-Based Practice and Usual Care for Adolescent Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Examining Mechanistic Outcomes.

Previous research suggests that routine psychosocial care for adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an eclectic and individualized mix of diluted evidence-based practices (EBPs) and low-value approaches. This study evaluated the extent to which a community-delivered EBP and usual care (UC) for adolescents with ADHD produce differential changes in theorized behavioral, psychological, and cognitive mechanisms of ADHD. A randomized community-based trial was conducted with double randomization of adolescent and community therapists to EBP delivery supports (Supporting Teens' Autonomy Daily [STAND]) versus UC delivery. Participants were 278 culturally diverse adolescents (ages 11-17) with ADHD and caregivers. Mechanistic outcomes were measured at baseline, post-treatment, and follow-up using parent-rated, observational, and task-based measures. Results using linear mixed models indicated that UC demonstrated superior effects on parent-rated and task-based executive functioning relative to STAND. However, STAND demonstrated superior effects on adolescent motivation and reducing parental intrusiveness relative to UC when it was delivered by licensed therapists. Mechanisms of community-delivered STAND and UC appear to differ. UC potency may occur through improved executive functioning, whereas STAND potency may occur through improved teen motivation and reducing low-value parenting practices. However, when delivered by unlicensed, community-based therapists, STAND did not enact proposed mechanisms. Future adaptations of community-delivered EBPs for ADHD should increase supports for unlicensed therapists, who comprise the majority of the community mental health workforce.

Changes in adolescents with borderline personality features and caregivers after dialectical behaviour multifamily group therapy / Cambios en adolescentes con rasgos de trastorno límite de personalidad y cuidadores tras un grupo multifamiliar de terapia dialéctico conductual

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is an effective treatment for symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and has been adapted to adolescent population (DBT-A). The objective of this pilot study was to determine if DBT-A skill group as a stand-alone treatment could improve rearing styles and emotion regulation in adolescents with BPD features and their parents. We designed a 12-week skills group intervention with 14 adolescents with BPD features and their caregivers. Participants (81.82% female) ranged in age from 14 to 17 (M= 15.55 SD=.82).We tested the results of the intervention using the non-parametric Wilcoxon test and calculated effect sizes. To understand individual changes, we reported clinical reliable change (CRC). Acceptability of the intervention was also evaluated. The intervention was effective for improving rearing styles (more affectionate and less criticism) in parents and adolescents. Changes in emotion regulation processes were mixed. Some of the changes were stable 6 months after intervention. Participants reported good levels of satisfaction with the intervention. A DBT-A multifamily group intervention could modify potential mechanisms related with the developing BPD as rearing styles. The duration of the intervention could not be enough to improve emotion regulation processes. Developing early interventions with adolescents with BPD features could modify mechanisms that prevent the establishment of BDP. (AU)

La Terapia Dialéctico Conductual (TDC) es efectiva para el tratamiento de los síntomas del Trastorno Límite de Personalidad (TLP) y ha sido adaptada a población adolescente (TDC-A). El objetivo de este estudio piloto fue determinar si el grupo de habilidades de TDC-A como tratamiento independiente podría mejorar los estilos de crianza y la regulación emocional en adolescentes con características de TLP y sus padres. Diseñamos una intervención grupal de habilidades de 12 semanas de duración con 14 adolescentes con características de TLP y sus cuidadores. Los partici-pantes (81.82% mujeres) tenían edades desde 14 a 17 años (M= 15.55 SD= .82).Evaluamos los resultados de la intervención mediante la prueba no paramétrica de Wilcoxon y el cálculo de los tamaños del efecto. Para conocer los cambios individuales, informamos el cambio clínico significativo (CCS). También se evaluó la aceptabilidad de la intervención. La intervención fue efectiva para mejorar los estilos de crianza (más afectivo y menos crítico) en padres y adolescentes. Los cambios en los procesos de regulación emocional fueron mixtos. Algunos de los cambios se mantuvieron estables 6 meses después de la intervención. Los participantes reportaron buenos niveles de satisfacción con la intervención. Una intervención multifamiliar grupal de TDC-A podría modificar los potenciales mecanismos relacionados con el desarrollo del TLP como son los estilos de crianza. La intervención podría no ser suficiente para mejorar los procesos de regulación emocional. Desarrollar una intervención temprana con adolescentes con rasgos de TLP podría modificar los mecanismos que previenen el establecimiento de TLP. (AU)

Do We Know Enough about Negative Parenting? Recent Evidence on Parenting Styles and Child Maladjustment / ¿Sabemos suficiente sobre el estilo parental negativo? Pruebas recientes sobre los estilos parentales y la inadaptación de los hijos

Background: There are serious doubts as to whether parental strictness, one of the two main dimensions of parental style, can be a negative or positive component of parenting in traditional societies. Method: Parenting style (authoritarian, authoritative, indulgent, and neglectful) was captured from strictness and warmth dimensions and child maladjustment was assessed with problems of self-esteem and self-concept (academic, social, emotional, family, and physical) studied worldwide. The sample was composed of 1,282 Chinese participants (676 females, 52.7%), 581 adolescent children (age ranging from 12-18 years, 45.3%), and 701 young adult children (age ranging from 19-31 years, 54.7%). A 4 × 2 × 2 factorial MANOVA was applied for all outcomes using parenting style, sex, and age as the independent variables. Results: The statistical analysis plainly indicated that authoritarian (strictness but not warmth) and neglectful (neither strictness nor warmth) parenting styles were associated with higher maladjustment in terms of lower self-esteem and self-concept scores. Indulgent (not strictness but warmth) and authoritative (strictness and warmth) parenting were positive parenting styles acting as protective factors against self-esteem and self-concept problems. The authoritative style (strictness and warmth), but not the authoritarian parenting style (strictness but not warmth), was the most positive parenting for academic self-concept, but only among adolescents. Conclusions: Interestingly, completely contrary to expectations that authoritarian parenting might be a positive parenting in traditional societies, present findings suggest that the authoritarian style might be a negative parenting related to child maladjustment. (AU)

Antecedentes: Existen serias dudas sobre si la severidad parental, una de las dos dimensiones principales del estilo parental, puede ser un componente negativo o positivo de la socialización en las sociedades tradicionales. Método: El estilo parental (autoritario, autorizativo, indulgente y negligente) se evaluó a partir de las dimensiones de severidad y afecto, y el desajuste de los hijos por medio de problemas de autoestima y autoconcepto (académicos, sociales, emocionales, familiares y físicos) estudiados en todo el mundo. La muestra estaba compuesta por 1,282 participantes chinos (676 mujeres, 52.7%), 581 hijos adolescentes (de 12 a 18 años, 45.3%) y 701 hijos adultos jóvenes (de 19 a 31 años, 54.7%). Se aplicó un MANOVA factorial 4 × 2 × 2 para todos los criterios utilizando el estilo parental, el sexo y la edad como variables independientes. Resultados: El análisis estadístico indicó claramente que el estilo parental autoritario (severidad sin afecto) y el negligente (ni severidad ni afecto) estaban relacionados con un mayor desajuste, como indican las menores puntuaciones de autoestima y autoconcepto. El estilo indulgente (afecto sin severidad) y el autorizativo (severidad y afecto) fueron estilos parentales positivos que actuaron como factores protectores contra los problemas de autoestima y autoconcepto. El estilo autorizativo (severidad y afecto), pero no el autoritario (severidad sin afecto), fue el más positivo para el autoconcepto académico, pero sólo en los adolescentes. Conclusiones: En contra de las expectativas de que el estilo parental autoritario podría ser positivo para la socialización en las sociedades tradicionales, los presentes resultados sugieren que la socialización autoritaria es un estilo parental negativo relacionado con problemas de desajuste de los hijos. (AU)

"You just have to spread it thin": Perceptions and feeding experiences of Australian fathers of young children living with disadvantage.

The role of fathers in feeding is an emerging field within child feeding literature. Fathers have unique contributions to make to family mealtimes and child eating behaviours. However, qualitative research on fathers' experiences is limited, especially in the context of disadvantage. This study explored fathers' perceptions of their roles and feeding practices and their lived experience of disadvantage through a symbolic interactionism lens. Twenty-five Australian fathers of children aged six months to five years who experienced socioeconomic disadvantage participated in semi-structured interviews. Five themes were constructed from reflexive thematic analysis: (i) responsibilities for foodwork are based on strengths, opportunities, and values, (ii) negotiating fatherhood identity from a place of tension to acceptance, (iii) struggling with financial and mental strain, and food insecurity, (iv) managing adversity whist prioritising feeding children, and (v) paternal feeding practices are driven by values, adversity, and emotions. The division of foodwork was contingent on family capability and employment, maternal gatekeeping, paternal attitudes and values, and intergenerational, cultural and gender norms around earning and childrearing. Economic, environmental, and emotional stressors triggered changes to fathers' feeding practices, often contradicting their ideals (e.g., providing alternative meals, using rewards and electronic devices, unstructured settings). Fathers described income and food-based strategies to protect children's food intake, which may involve caregivers forgoing meals. These findings provide insight into fathers' feeding experiences through recognising personal, interpersonal, and systemic enablers and barriers. Promoting optimal feeding practices should include targeted feeding support and broader structural interventions to address inequality. Fathers' experiences as they navigate child mealtime interactions within a context of adversity can be used to inform child feeding interventions to improve child health and development.

Child rearing or childbearing? Risk of cardiovascular diseases associated to parity and number of children.

BACKGROUND: An increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) has been associated with women's parity, but whether or not this association reflects a direct pregnancy effect, or exposure to factors related to childrearing, still appears unclear. We assessed the CVD risk associated with number of children separately by gender and tested effect modification by socioeconomic position (SEP) and employment status, in order to elucidate the possible mechanisms underlying this association. METHODS: The study population was composed of 20,904 men and 25,246 women who were interviewed in one of two National Health Surveys conducted in 2000 and 2005 in Italy. These subjects were followed for CVD incidence up to 2014 through record-linkage with national archives of mortality and hospitalisations. CVD risk was estimated by Cox regression models that were adjusted for socio-demographics, perceived health, lifestyles, biological CVD risk factors and for other potential confounders. RESULTS: CVD incidence was significantly increased among men with 3 or more children (HR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.02-1.56) and among women with 2 and with 3 or more children (HR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.10-1.83; and HR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.03-1.87, respectively) compared to subjects without children and no significant gender differences were observed. Subjects with lower SEP displayed stronger associations with parity and a higher number of children for both genders; by contrast, no modifying effect of employment status was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, the significant association between higher parity and CVD risk in both genders, and the higher risk of CVD associated with higher parity among lower SEP parents, suggests that childrearing has a potential effect on the development of CVD that is more pronounced among disadvantaged families, although a concurrent effect of childbearing cannot be completely excluded.

Family-Focused Universal Substance Use Prevention in Primary Care: Advancing a Pragmatic National Healthcare Agenda.

This article advances ideas presented at a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine workshop in 2022 that highlighted clinical practice and policy recommendations for delivering universal, family-focused substance use preventive interventions in pediatric primary care. Pediatric primary care is a natural setting in which to offer families universal anticipatory guidance and links to systematic prevention programming; also, several studies have shown that offering effective parenting programs in primary care is feasible. The article describes a blueprint for designing a pragmatic national agenda for universal substance use prevention in primary care that builds on prior work. Blueprint practice schematics leverage efficacious family-focused prevention programs, identify key program implementation challenges and resources, and emphasize adopting a core element approach and utilizing digital interventions. Blueprint policy schematics specify avenues for improving cross-sector policy and resource alignment and collaboration; expanding, diversifying, and strengthening the prevention workforce; and enhancing financing for family-focused prevention approaches. The article then draws from these schematics to assemble a candidate universal prevention toolkit tailored for adolescent patients that contains four interlocking components: education in positive parenting practices, parent and youth education in substance use risks, a parent-youth structured interaction task, and parent and youth linkage to in-person and web-based prevention resources.

The gradients of the relationship between child discipline practices at home and early childhood development of young children.

BACKGROUND: Although the literature suggests a negative association between early childhood development (ECD) and violent disciplinary measures, little is known about the gradient of this relationship. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the gradient of the relationship between the number and types of child discipline practices at home and the ECD of children aged from 36-to-59 months. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: The study used nationally representative data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey Bangladesh 2019. METHODS: We analysed secondary data using multivariable logistic regression to examine the relationship between child discipline practices and ECD. The gradients were measured using three sets of summative indexes of disciplinary practices and psychometric approach to the physical, literacy-numeracy, learning and social-emotional domains of ECD. RESULTS: About 94 % of children had at least one of the eight violent disciplinary measures during the month preceding the survey. Approximately three-quarters of the children were on track in their ECD. The probability that children were on track in ECD significantly increased with non-violent disciplinary practices and decreased with violent disciplinary practices used. For one unit increase in the overall violent disciplinary index, the odds of children being on track in their ECD was reduced by 12 %, and the reduction was significant (adjusted odds ratio = 0.88; 95%CI: 0.86-0.91). CONCLUSIONS: Children who had experienced several forms of violent disciplinary measures were more likely than those who did not to be delayed in their ECD. Banning violent punishments in all settings and positive parenting programs are recommended.

Parenting a child with Down syndrome: A qualitative study on parents' experiences and behaviors from a self-determination theory perspective.

PURPOSE: Raising a child with Down syndrome (DS) brings unique challenges to parents' psychological functioning. Extensive quantitative research has shown that these parents tend to experience higher levels of parental stress and lower well-being. However, a more in-depth and balanced insight is essential to fully grasp the complexity of parenting a child with DS. To address this gap, this study uses a qualitative approach to explore the experiences and behaviors of parents raising a child with DS. DESIGN AND METHODS: By adopting the Self-Determination Theory as a comprehensive theoretical framework, this study attends to both opportunities and challenges for parents' psychological needs of autonomy, relatedness, and competence, and provides insights into how they support the psychological needs of their child with DS. Eleven in-depth interviews were conducted with parents of a child with DS (aged 4 to 23 years). RESULTS: Through thematic analysis, six themes of parental experiences and three themes of parenting behaviors were distinguished. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that parents experience many opportunities for need satisfaction, predominantly in their need for relatedness. However, raising a child with DS also involves challenges for the parents' family relationships, personal freedom, professional ambitions, and feelings of competence. Regarding their parenting behaviors, parents considered stimulating independence, tuning into the child's mental world, and being patient as essential practices when raising a child with DS. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: This study provides important clues to promote parents' well-being as well as their engagement in need-supportive parenting practices towards their child with DS.

Practitioner Review: A core competencies perspective on the evidence-based treatment of child conduct problems.

BACKGROUND: The effective treatment of child conduct problems is understood to rely on a range of therapist competencies, yet these have rarely been an explicit focus of research. In this practitioner review, we examine core competencies for the delivery of evidence-based parenting interventions for conduct problems in early-to-middle childhood. These are examined in light of research into the common elements shared by these interventions, literature regarding common challenges in these interventions, and conceptualisations of such competencies in other fields of mental health. METHODS: We report on the development of a novel consensus-based model of core competencies for evidence-based practice in this field, based on consultation with an international expert panel. This includes competencies as they apply to complex presentations of conduct problems. RESULTS: Despite considerable variation among widely disseminated programmes in terms of content, format and skills-training practices, there is strong consensus among practitioners regarding core competencies. These relate to three broad domains: (a) generic therapeutic competencies; (b) parenting intervention competencies; (c) specific parenting skills/techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Practitioners working with conduct problems, particularly complex presentations thereof, require competencies for engaging not only mothers, but fathers and diverse/non-traditional caregivers and other stakeholders, in evidence-based parenting interventions. Moreover, the successful delivery of these interventions necessitates competencies that extend beyond behaviour management and encompass broader aspects of the family system and the wider ecology of the child.

Understanding and Changing Community Attitudes Toward Vulnerable Families: A Review of Literature and Practice.

Communities can play an important role in protecting children and supporting vulnerable families. However, there is currently a lack of understanding of what communities actually think and do regarding these groups. The purpose of this study was to review and synthesize evidence on community attitudes and behaviors toward vulnerable families. A rapid systematic literature review was conducted, supplemented by 6 semistructured interviews with experienced practitioners. Four databases were searched using key words related to community attitudes and behaviors, parents and families, and family and child protection services. Database searches returned 10 135 unique records, of which 23 met the inclusion criteria. The identified articles investigated a range of attitudes and behaviors, including reporting abuse and neglect; assisting victims of intimate partner violence; attitudes toward parenting practices; and participating in activities that build social support and social capital. Correlates of these attitudes and behaviors included sociodemographic characteristics, individual differences, community characteristics, and incident characteristics. A number of interventions to change community attitudes and behaviors were also identified. Practitioners indicated that success factors for interventions included facilitating active participation from community members; using multifaceted approaches; and increasing empathy toward vulnerable families. Despite increasing evidence around how community members think and act toward vulnerable families, more (particularly review-level) research is needed to determine how to effectively change these attitudes and behaviors.

It takes a safe village to raise a child-a commentary on Dana McCoy et al. (2023).

This commentary on the study by McCoy et al. (2023) examining the negative effects of neighborhood violence on the development of toddlers growing up in the city of São Paulo (Brazil) interprets these outcomes from the perspective of ecological system theory, modern brain research, and the prospect of resilience. We argue that societies should give children the opportunity to grow up in a safe and sufficiently affluent social environment in order to give them a chance to achieve their full developmental potential. Governments and the health care system should, therefore, first and foremost invest in safe and stimulating child-rearing environments, informed by scientific research.

Sex-related differences in parental rearing patterns in young adults with bipolar disorder.

The aim of this study was to examine the parenting characteristics of young patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and explore the sex differences. The parental rearing pattern of young patients with BD was measured and compared with the healthy control of young adults. The EMBU scale was used to assess parental rearing patterns. Patients with BD reported significantly higher scores in the punishment and severity index, as well as of the rejection and denial index, but lower scores in the warmth & affectionate index in the paternal rearing pattern, compared with healthy controls. In addition, patients scored higher on the punishment and severity index and rejection and patterns index in maternal rearing patterns. More importantly, we found significant sex differences in maternal rearing patterns (pBonferroni < 0.05). Specifically, in the maternal rearing patterns, male patients had higher scores on the favoring index than male controls, whereas female patients had lower scores on the warmth & affectionate index than female controls. This study shows significant differences in parental rearing patterns between patients and control subjects. Male patients were overprotective by their mothers and female patients were overlooked by their mothers during upbringing.

Estrés de la crianza, estilos maternos de alimentación y su relación con el índice de masa corporal del preescolar / Parenting stress, maternal feeding styles related to preschooler body mass index

Introducción: el exceso de peso en la infancia se ve influenciado por múltiples factores; la crianza podría contribuir a este problema, dado que durante la etapa infantil son los padres y principalmente la madre los responsables de proporcionar alimento y de alimentar a sus hijos. Objetivo: explorar la relación del estrés de la crianza y los estilos maternos de alimentación con el IMC del hijo preescolar. Materiales y métodos: estudio transversal. Participaron 382 díadas madre e hijo, los últimos de 3-5 años. Los hijos asistían a instituciones públicas de educación preescolar. Las madres participantes contestaron la Escala de Estrés de la Crianza y el Cuestionario de Estilos de Alimentación del Cuidador. Se midió peso, talla y se calculó el IMC del preescolar. Resultados: el 34 % de las madres utilizaban con mayor frecuencia un estilo indulgente y el 28,2 % de los hijos preescolares tenía sobrepeso-obesidad. Las madres con estilo autoritario presentaban el rango promedio más alto de estrés de la crianza comparado con las otras categorías (H = 15,302, gl = 3, p = 0,002). Se identificó que la escolaridad materna, la dimensión de la responsabilidad y la demanda contribuyen al IMC del hijo preescolar. Conclusión: el estrés de la crianza y los estilos de alimentación son variables que contribuyen al riesgo de sobrepeso-obesidad en los hijos preescolares. (AU)

Introduction: excess weight in childhood is influenced by multiple factors; parenting could contribute to this problem, given that during the infant stage the parents, and mainly the mother, are responsible for providing food and feeding their children. Objective: to explore the relationship of parenting stress and maternal feeding styles with preschool BMI. Materials and methods: a cross-sectional study. A total of 382 dyads, mother and child (3-5 years of age) participated. The children attended public preschool institutions. Participating mothers completed the Parenting Stress Scale and the Caregiver Feeding Styles Questionnaire. Weight and height were measured, and the child’s BMI was calculated. Results: 34 % of the mothers more frequently used an indulgent style, 28.2 % of the preschool children had overweight-obese. Mothers with an authoritative style had the highest mean range of parenting stress compared to other categories (H = 15.302, gl = 3, p = 0.002). Maternal schooling, responsibility and demand dimensions were identified as contributing to preschooler BMI. Conclusion: parenting stress and feeding styles are variables that contribute to the risk of overweight-obesity in preschool children. (AU)