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Martin MI, Mauer-Vakil D, Borkhoff CM, Parkin PC, Bayoumi I. Connecting families: a qualitative study examining the experiences of parenting young children under financial strain in Ontario, Canada. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:913. [PMID: 38549075 PMCID: PMC10976761 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18463-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is little research investigating the subjective experiences of parenting young children while living in poverty and experiencing financial strain using qualitative methodologies. Therefore, the objective of this study was to employ a qualitative approach to provide a nuanced and balanced view on the topic of parenting young children under financial strain in the Canadian context. METHODS We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews between July and August 2021 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Sixteen participants aged 20-39 self-identified as living under financial strain while parenting a child aged 2-5 years. A qualitative inductive thematic analysis was undertaken with a focus on describing the contents of the data. RESULTS Four major themes emerged from the data: experience of being a parent, impact of financial strain on the family unit, impact of financial strain on the children, and impact of financial strain on the parent. Numerous deleterious physical, mental, and material impacts on the family unit and parent were identified, however parent-perceived impacts of financial strain on their children were minimal. Parents described striking levels of resourcefulness and resiliency in providing the necessities for their families, absorbing the most significant impacts of financial strain through the phenomenon of self-sacrifice. CONCLUSION The impacts of financial strain on families with young children are far reaching. Further research into the impacts of self-sacrifice on parents experiencing financial strain are needed to better understand this issue, and to inform social programming and resources that could help alleviate the deleterious impacts of poverty on parent mental, social, and physical health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary I Martin
- Centre for Studies in Primary Care, Queen's University, 220 Bagot St, K7L 5E9, Kingston, ON, P.O. Bag 8888, Canada
| | - Dane Mauer-Vakil
- Centre for Studies in Primary Care, Queen's University, 220 Bagot St, K7L 5E9, Kingston, ON, P.O. Bag 8888, Canada
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Cornelia M Borkhoff
- Pediatric Outcomes Research Team (PORT), Division of Pediatric Medicine and SickKids Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Patricia C Parkin
- Pediatric Outcomes Research Team (PORT), Division of Pediatric Medicine and SickKids Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Temetry Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Imaan Bayoumi
- Centre for Studies in Primary Care, Queen's University, 220 Bagot St, K7L 5E9, Kingston, ON, P.O. Bag 8888, Canada.
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Gilmore L, Cuskelly M. The Parenting Sense of Competence scale: Updating a classic. Child Care Health Dev 2024; 50:e13173. [PMID: 37812533 DOI: 10.1111/cch.13173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Parenting Sense of Competence (PSOC) is a self-report measure of parenting efficacy and satisfaction that is widely used by researchers and clinicians in many countries. Despite its popularity, there have been some criticisms of the instrument. The aims of the current study were to identify and address shortcomings of the PSOC and to produce a revised measure that reflected the original constructs and that demonstrated robust psychometric properties. METHODS The researchers examined the original PSOC and proposed changes to overcome identified issues. A sample of 3056 Australian mothers provided data for the revised instrument's factor structure and psychometric analyses. RESULTS We identified a number of problems with the original instrument, including factorial inconsistency, and multipart or potentially ambiguous questions. Of particular concern was the fact that all negatively worded items load onto one subscale and all positively worded questions load onto the other subscale. In addressing these issues, we produced a 16-item instrument (the Parenting Sense of Competence-Revised; PSOC-R) with strong internal consistency, excellent test-retest reliability and good evidence of construct validity including factorial validity and criterion-related validity. CONCLUSIONS The PSOC-R maintains the intent of the original measure in assessing parenting Efficacy (10 items) and Satisfaction (6 items). It represents improvements in item construction including reductions in complexity, with no multipart items and a lower reading level requirement than previously. Data across four child age groups enhance the instrument's clinical utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Gilmore
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
| | - Monica Cuskelly
- School of Education, College of Arts, Law & Education, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- School of Education, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Jamison JM, Egger D, Vazquez CE, McBride MJ, Pauling SN, Hess KE, Calzada EJ, Bearman SK. Mental Health Trajectories of Latinx Female Caregivers and Young Children During COVID-19: A Longitudinal Analysis. JOURNAL OF CHILD AND FAMILY STUDIES 2023; 32:571-585. [PMID: 36788947 PMCID: PMC9911948 DOI: 10.1007/s10826-023-02545-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Studies of the impact of COVID-19 on mental health symptoms suggest that there may be a unique impact of COVID-19 on minoritized individuals, young children (children five and younger), and their caregivers. Longitudinal studies with representative samples including minoritized populations are needed to accurately reflect the experience of families during COVID-19. The current study used a longitudinal design to assess trajectories of mental health among Latinx female caregivers and their young children over time, beginning prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and over the course of 12 months. In fall of 2019, Latinx female caregivers (N = 213; 93.0% biological mother) of young children (M age = 5.38, SD = 0.34) reported on their own and their child's (52.6% female) mental health symptoms, as well as parenting stress, at three time points through Fall of 2020. Growth curve models showed that self-report of caregiver global mental health worsened over time, though caregiver depression and parenting stress did not change significantly, nor did caregiver-report of their children's mental health. Results suggest that while female caregiver well-being was adversely affected by COVID-19, caregivers showed resilience in the face of this pandemic, which in turn may have buffered the impact of the pandemic on Latinx child mental health. Methodological and contextual implications of these results are considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesslyn M. Jamison
- Department of Educational Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, 1912 Speedway, Stop D5800, Austin, TX 78712-0383 USA
| | - Dominique Egger
- Department of Educational Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, 1912 Speedway, Stop D5800, Austin, TX 78712-0383 USA
| | - Christian E. Vazquez
- School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Arlington, 211S Cooper St, Arlington, TX 76019 USA
| | - Megan J. McBride
- Department of Educational Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, 1912 Speedway, Stop D5800, Austin, TX 78712-0383 USA
| | - Sydney N. Pauling
- Department of Educational Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, 1912 Speedway, Stop D5800, Austin, TX 78712-0383 USA
| | - Katherine E. Hess
- Department of Educational Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, 1912 Speedway, Stop D5800, Austin, TX 78712-0383 USA
| | - Esther J. Calzada
- The Steve Hicks School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin, 1925 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78712 USA
| | - Sarah Kate Bearman
- Department of Educational Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, 1912 Speedway, Stop D5800, Austin, TX 78712-0383 USA
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Galvan T, Hurwich-Reiss E, Watamura SE. Latina mothers' mental health: An examination of its relation to parenting and material resources. FAMILY PROCESS 2022; 61:1646-1662. [PMID: 34913484 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The demands and stressors associated with motherhood can increase a mother's risk for mental health concerns. Latina mothers are particularly vulnerable to the relation between motherhood-related stressors and maternal mental health given that they are at an increased risk for mental health concerns, that they are likely to have their mental health needs go unmet, and that traditional Latinx cultural values/gender roles emphasize women assuming the role of primary caregiver of the family's children. In an attempt to better understand how motherhood impacts Latina mother's mental health, this study explored the relations among parental self-efficacy, parenting stress, and maternal mental health. This study also explored how a mother's perception of her material resources influenced these relations. One hundred and thirty-two Latina mothers completed questionnaires to assess parenting stress, parental self-efficacy, and maternal mental health risk. The moderating effect of maternal perception of material resources in the aforementioned relations was assessed through the creation of a composite variable derived from items in the demographic questionnaires. Multiple linear regression analyses were used. Higher levels of parenting stress, but not parental self-efficacy, were related to increased maternal mental health risk. Furthermore, mothers who perceived themselves to have lower material resources were at increased risk for diminished mental health in the context of low parental self-efficacy. Results of this study yielded important information that is necessary for informing healthcare best practices, identifying targets for future interventions, and ultimately improving the health outcomes of Latinx mothers and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thania Galvan
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Eliana Hurwich-Reiss
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Sarah E Watamura
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
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McWhirter AC, Donovick MR. Acculturation, parenting stress, and children's problem behaviours among immigrant Latinx mothers and fathers. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY & APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 32:882-895. [PMID: 39371312 PMCID: PMC11452048 DOI: 10.1002/casp.2607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The Latinx population in the United States has been growing steadily over the last few decades, necessitating the need to better understand the impact of stress and acculturation on Latinx parents and children to provide more targeted community supports. This study examines how parenting stress, within the context of acculturation, is associated with children's internalizing and externalizing behaviours among newly immigrated Latinx families (n = 129). Correlational analyses were used to understand the relationship between acculturation, parenting stress for mothers and fathers, and children's behaviour problems. Regression analyses were used to predict children's behaviours when accounting for acculturation and parenting stress. Results indicated that parent acculturation was not associated with child problem behaviours for mothers or fathers. Maternal parenting stress was associated with child internalizing and externalizing behaviour problems, while paternal parenting stress was associated with child externalizing problems only. Implications and future directions for this research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Melissa R. Donovick
- PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology, California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, California, USA
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Gómez A, Karimli L, Holguin M, Chung P, Szilagyi P, Schickedanz A. Bills, babies, and (language) barriers: Associations among economic strain, parenting, and primary language during the newborn period. FAMILY RELATIONS 2022; 71:352-370. [PMID: 36329797 PMCID: PMC9629816 DOI: 10.1111/fare.12587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to examine associations among economic strain, parenting self-efficacy, parenting satisfaction, and parent primary language in a universally low-income sample of parents with newborns. BACKGROUND Previous research links increased economic strain to lower levels of parenting self-efficacy and parenting satisfaction among socioeconomically diverse parents with older children. Little research has examined whether primary language shapes the associations among economic strain, parenting self-efficacy, and parenting satisfaction. METHOD Parents (n = 194, M age = 30.91) completed self-report surveys measuring economic strain, parenting self-efficacy, and parenting satisfaction. Parents' ethnic self-identification and primary language were used to stratify parents into three groups: Latinx Spanish speakers, Latinx English speakers, and non-Latinx English speakers. RESULTS Regression analyses revealed that economic strain was negatively associated with both parenting self-efficacy and parenting satisfaction. Further, the negative association between economic strain and parenting self-efficacy was stronger for Latinx Spanish speakers. CONCLUSION Economic strain may negatively influence parenting self-efficacy and parenting satisfaction during the newborn period. Parents whose primary language is Spanish may be disproportionately affected by economic strain. IMPLICATIONS Parents of newborns may benefit from increased economic supports in linguistically responsive pediatric care and social service settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Gómez
- School of Social Welfare, University of California–Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Leyla Karimli
- Department of Social Welfare, Luskin School of Public Affairs, University of California–Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Monique Holguin
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Paul Chung
- Department of Health Systems Science, Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, Pasadena, California, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Peter Szilagyi
- Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Adam Schickedanz
- Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Conroy K, Frech N, Sanchez AL, Hagan MB, Bagner DM, Comer JS. Caregiver stress and cultural identity in families of preschoolers with developmental delay and behavioral problems. Infant Ment Health J 2021; 42:573-585. [PMID: 33961711 PMCID: PMC8363575 DOI: 10.1002/imhj.21923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Research on families of young children with developmental delay and disruptive behavior problems has failed to examine caregiver stress in the context of cultural factors. METHODS Families of 3-year-old children with developmental delay and behavior problems were recruited from Early Intervention sites. All caregivers in the current analysis (n = 147) were from immigrant and/or cultural minority backgrounds. Regarding income-to-needs, most families (57.8%) fell into the extreme poverty, poor, or low-income categories. Caregivers reported on their own experiences of acculturation and enculturation as well as their child's problems. RESULTS Path analyses revealed that higher caregiver acculturation was associated with less parenting-specific stress, and higher caregiver enculturation was associated with less caregiver general stress. Severity of child problems was associated with more parenting-specific stress and general stress. Exploratory analysis yielded significant differences in associations between acculturation, enculturation, and caregiver stress in Black/African American caregivers versus Hispanic White caregivers. CONCLUSION Findings suggest that among cultural minority caregivers of young children with developmental and behavioral problems, acculturation and enculturation may influence caregiver stress. While the cross-sectional nature of the study precludes causal conclusions, clinicians should consider how cultural factors can be harnessed to strengthen caregiver resiliency and improve engagement in parenting interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Conroy
- Center for Children and Families, Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Natalie Frech
- Center for Children and Families, Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Amanda L. Sanchez
- Penn Center for Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mary B. Hagan
- Center for Children and Families, Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Daniel M. Bagner
- Center for Children and Families, Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Jonathan S. Comer
- Center for Children and Families, Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
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Fang Y, Boelens M, Windhorst DA, Raat H, van Grieken A. Factors associated with parenting self-efficacy: A systematic review. J Adv Nurs 2021; 77:2641-2661. [PMID: 33590585 PMCID: PMC8248335 DOI: 10.1111/jan.14767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Aims To provide an overview of the parental, child, and socio‐contextual factors related to general parenting self‐efficacy (PSE) in the general population. Design Systematic review. Data sources Medline Ovid, Web of Science, Embase, and PsycINFO Ovid were systematically searched for studies published between January 1980‐June 2020. Review Methods Studies were included if they described associations between factor(s) and PSE among parents of children aged 0–18 years old in the general population, and published in an English language peer‐reviewed journal. Studies with participants from specific populations, studies describing the development of instruments for PSE, qualitative studies, reviews, theses, conference papers and book chapters were excluded. Belsky's process model of parenting guided the data synthesis. Results Of 3,819 articles, 30 articles met the inclusion criteria. Eighty‐nine factors were identified. There was evidence of associations between child temperament, maternal parenting satisfaction, parenting stress, maternal depression, household income, perceived social support and PSE. Evidence was inconsistent for an association of educational level, parity, number of children in the household and PSE in mothers. There was no evidence of an association for child gender, age, marital status and PSE in both mothers and fathers; ethnicity, age, employment status in mothers; household income in fathers; and educational level, parenting fatigue in parents. Conclusion A range of factors studied in relation to PSE was identified in this systematic review. However, the majority of the factors was reported by one or two studies often implementing a cross‐sectional design. Impact There is some evidence for an association between some potentially modifiable factors and PSE in the general population, this information may be used by health and social professionals supporting child health and well‐being. Future longitudinal studies are recommended to study parental, child and socio‐contextual factors associated with PSE to inform the development of intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Fang
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mirte Boelens
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dafna A Windhorst
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hein Raat
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Amy van Grieken
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Harris RA, Santos HP. Maternal depression in Latinas and child socioemotional development: A systematic review. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230256. [PMID: 32163494 PMCID: PMC7067456 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Although substantial research exists on the debilitating effects of maternal depression on child development, little is known about Latina mothers with depression and their young children within the broader context of sociocultural and economic stressors. Objectives What is the relationship between maternal depression in Latina mothers and their children’s socioemotional outcomes through early developmental windows (0–5 years)? Methods We searched electronic databases PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO in this systematic review, pre-registered via PROSPERO (CRD42019128686). Based on pre-determined criteria, we identified 56 studies and included 15 in the final sample. After extracting data, we assessed study quality with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. Results We found inverse correlations between maternal depression and child socioemotional outcomes; furthermore, we found evidence of a moderating and mediating role of maternal depression between contextual stressors and child outcomes. Children of U.S.-born Latina mothers had poorer developmental outcomes than children of foreign-born Latina mothers across socioemotional domains and throughout early developmental windows. Conclusions Future research must examine underlying mechanisms for the potential Latino paradox in young Latino children’s socioemotional outcomes. Policies should support mental health of Latina mothers as early as the prenatal period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Alvarado Harris
- School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Hudson P. Santos
- School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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