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Zhu J, Xiang S, Li Y. Mothers' Perceived Co-Parenting and Preschooler's Problem Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Maternal Parenting Stress and the Moderating Role of Family Resilience. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2024; 17:891-904. [PMID: 38476351 PMCID: PMC10929244 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s451870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Problem behaviors in preschoolers signals social adjustment challenges. This study investigates the mediating role of parenting stress in the relationship between co-parenting and these behaviors, and examines how family resilience impacts this dynamic. Methods A detailed survey was conducted with 1279 mothers of 3-6-year-olds in Shanghai, China, focusing on co-parenting, family resilience, parenting stress, and children's behaviors. We employed SPSS 26 for initial tests and the Hayes PROCESS macro in SPSS 23.0 for advanced analysis, using bootstrap methods to assess mediation and moderation effects. Results The analysis revealed that maternal parenting stress mediates the relationship between co-parenting and children's problem behaviors. Specifically, unsupportive co-parenting or low levels of supportive co-parenting heightened maternal stress, which in turn increased children's problem behaviors. Family resilience was found to moderate this relationship, buffering the impact of unsupportive co-parenting on maternal stress. High family resilience levels were associated with lower parenting stress, regardless of co-parenting quality. Conclusion These findings highlight the importance of enhancing family resilience and supportive co-parenting to mitigate parenting stress and reduce problem behaviors in children. It has practical implications for developing family-centred interventions and policies to strengthen family resilience and co-parenting skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Zhu
- Shanghai Institute of Early Childhood Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shuhui Xiang
- Shanghai Institute of Early Childhood Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan Li
- Shanghai Institute of Early Childhood Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
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2
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Reesor-Oyer L, Marshall AN, Hernandez DC. Examination of co-parenting support and parenting stress as mediators of the food insecurity-maternal depression/anxiety relationship. J Affect Disord 2023; 341:96-103. [PMID: 37625705 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.08.094] [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: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identifying family environment factors related to food insecurity and maternal mental health could inform additional support for mothers who experience food insecurity. This study seeks to examine the mechanistic roles of co-parenting support and parenting stress on the food insecurity-maternal mental health relationship. METHODS Data from the Future of Families and Child Well-being Study, which recruited mothers post-delivery from 75 urban hospitals, was utilized. Analysis includes 1808 mothers followed for 15 years. Food insecurity was assessed at year 5, co-parenting support and parenting stress at year 9, and maternal depression and anxiety at year 15. Structural equation models evaluated the role of food insecurity on maternal depression (model 1) and anxiety (model 2) through co-parenting support and parenting stress simultaneously, adjusting for socio-demographics. RESULTS Co-parenting support did not mediate the relationships of food insecurity and maternal depression and anxiety, controlling for parenting stress. Controlling for co-parenting support, parenting stress did not mediate the food insecurity-maternal depression relationship, but partially mediated the food insecurity-maternal anxiety relationship (specific indirect: B = 0.026, CI:0.01, 0.05; specific direct: B = 0.131, CI:-0.04, 0.32). LIMITATIONS There was a significant period of time (10 years) between assessment of food insecurity and assessment of maternal mental health. Self-reported data on sensitive topics may be susceptible to bias. With observational research, it is possible that unobserved confounding variables impact the findings. CONCLUSIONS Cumulative support in the form of - parenting, economic (e.g., utilities), and food - may help reduce parenting stress and anxiety among mothers who experience food insecurity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Layton Reesor-Oyer
- Department of Health Education & Behavior, University of Florida, Gainesville, PO Box 118210, Gainesville, FL 32611-8210, USA.
| | - Allison N Marshall
- Cizik School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, 6901 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Daphne C Hernandez
- Cizik School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, 6901 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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3
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Han G, Alfredsson E, Cox L, Psouni E. Variation in coparenting quality in relation to child age: Links to coparents' relationship satisfaction and education. Scand J Psychol 2023; 64:632-643. [PMID: 36942554 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12915] [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: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Coparenting, denoting shared responsibilities in caring for a child, is a core component of parenthood for most parents. Research has linked quality in the coparenting relationship to several child outcomes as well as parent relationship satisfaction and mental health, yet whether and how these links may differ depending on child age is unclear. Here, we investigated links between coparenting quality, relationship satisfaction, parents' education, and child age, after assessing the psychometric properties of a Swedish version of the 35-item Coparenting Relationship Scale (CRS) in a sample of 206 parents in Sweden. Participants completed the full 35-item CRS, alongside the Parenting Alliance Measure (PAM) and a relationship satisfaction measure. Our findings reveal good psychometric qualities and construct validity for both the CRS and PAM used with Swedish parents. Consistent with other adaptations of the CRS, we found four composite factors for the CRS, all demonstrating high reliability and convergence with the PAM. In relation to child age, parents of older children reported poorer coparenting quality than parents of younger children. The link between relationship satisfaction and coparenting quality was stronger for highly educated parents. Education also predicted partner endorsement in parents of children in early and middle childhood, but not parents of infants. Together, our findings expand the empirical base for understanding coparenting and its links to relationship satisfaction in parents with children of different ages, and they highlight a moderating role of parental education in these links.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gizem Han
- Department of Psychology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Elin Alfredsson
- Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Laura Cox
- Department of Psychology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Elia Psouni
- Department of Psychology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Guterman NB, Bellamy JL, Banman A, Harty JS, Jaccard J, Mirque-Morales S. Engaging fathers to strengthen the impact of early home visitation on physical child abuse risk: Findings from the dads matter-HV randomized controlled trial. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2023; 143:106315. [PMID: 37419071 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite growing recognition of the importance of fathers in child abuse risk, the field of perinatal home visitation has only begun to consider fathers' roles in the implementation of such services. OBJECTIVES This study examines the effectiveness of Dads Matter-HV ("DM-HV"), a father-inclusion enhancement to home visitation, and hypothesized mediators of impact. METHODS A multisite cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted with 17 home visiting program teams serving 204 families across study conditions. Program supervisors and their teams were randomized to deliver home visiting services plus DM-HV enhanced services (intervention) or home visiting services alone (control). Data were collected at three time points: baseline, 4 months post-baseline immediately following the intervention, and 12 months post-baseline. We employed structural equation modeling to estimate the effect of the intervention on physical child abuse risk and to trace hypothesized mediators, including the quality of the father-worker relationship, parents' partner support and abuse, and the timing of service initiation. RESULTS Results indicated that the DM-HV enhancement improved home visitor relationships with fathers, but only for families receiving services initiated postnatally. For these families, the improved quality of the father-worker relationship predicted improved parents' support of one another and reduced bidirectional mother-father partner abuse at 4-month follow-up, which in turn lowered maternal physical child abuse risk and paternal physical child abuse risk at 12-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS DM-HV can strengthen the impact of home visitation services on physical child abuse risk for families when services are initiated postnatally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil B Guterman
- Silver School of Social Work, New York University, 1 Washington Square North, New York, NY 10003, USA.
| | - Jennifer L Bellamy
- Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver, 2148 South High Street, Denver, CO 80208, USA
| | - Aaron Banman
- Grace Abbott School of Social Work, University of Nebraska Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68182, USA
| | - Justin S Harty
- School of Social Work, Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, Arizona State University, 411 N Central Ave #750, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - James Jaccard
- Silver School of Social Work, New York University, 1 Washington Square North, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Sandra Mirque-Morales
- Center for Clinical and Translational Science, 1747 Roosevelt Road, WROB Room 216, Chicago, IL, 60608, USA
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5
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Johnson VJ, Choi D, Wheeler LA, Kuo PX. Coparenting support in the context of difficult children: Mother and father differences. FAMILY PROCESS 2023:e12911. [PMID: 37400272 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
While parenting children with difficult behaviors can intensify stress within the entire family system, families may lean on other familial relationships to mitigate that stress. The coparenting relationship is known to play a key role within the family system for child outcomes and familial interactions, but it is not clear whether it eases the stress and challenge of raising a difficult child, nor how that plays out differently for mothers versus fathers. Ninety-six couples (89.7% married) parenting young children (Mean age = 3.22 years) were included in this study. Using cross-sectional and aggregated daily response data, actor-partner interdependence models were used to examine how mothers' and fathers' perceived coparenting support lessened or intensified parenting stress and/or daily problems with their child/children-for themselves or their parenting partner. We found that greater coparenting support reported by mothers coincided with stronger links between the mother's report of child difficulty and daily problems encountered by both mothers and fathers. In contrast, when fathers reported greater coparenting support, the intensity between reported child difficulty and daily problems decreased for mothers, and fathers reported lower parenting stress. Coparenting support also moderated associations between parents' perception of child difficulty and daily problems with their children. These results suggest that mothers incur heightened coparenting support from fathers when experiencing more difficult child behavior and that coparenting support experienced by fathers may alleviate parenting challenges for mothers. These findings further contribute to the literature by emphasizing distinct differences between mothers and fathers in coparenting associations within the family system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria J Johnson
- Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Dongho Choi
- Nebraska Academy for Methodology, Analytics and Psychometrics, Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Lorey A Wheeler
- Nebraska Academy for Methodology, Analytics and Psychometrics, Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Patty X Kuo
- Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
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6
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Wells MB, Gedaly LR, Aronson O. Midwives and child health nurses' support is associated with positive coparenting for fathers of infants: A cross-sectional analysis. J Clin Nurs 2023; 32:1443-1454. [PMID: 35441382 DOI: 10.1111/jocn.16329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To examine if the professional support that fathers received from midwives and child health nurses was associated with improvements in fathers' coparenting. A secondary aim was to investigate if there were any support differences between fathers based on parity. BACKGROUND Stronger coparenting is associated with improved maternal, paternal and child health. It is unclear if routine prenatal and postnatal professional support is associated with improved coparenting in fathers of infants. DESIGN Cross-sectional online survey. METHODS In total, 612 fathers of infants (aged 0-24 months) completed baseline data between November 2018 and March 2020. Socio-demographics, pregnancy control variables, social support, professional support, being invited to attend and attending three specific visits for fathers, respectively, and the fathers' coparenting relationship, using the Brief Coparenting Relationship Scale, were assessed. The STROBE checklist was used as the reporting guideline for this study. RESULTS Fathers' attendance at child health visits, support from the prenatal and postnatal midwife, respectively, and total support from the child health nurse, are associated with more positive coparenting. Primiparous fathers reported more received social and professional support, as well as a more positive coparenting relationship than multiparous fathers. CONCLUSIONS Receiving clinical support from both midwives and child health nurses is associated with fathers' positive coparenting. All fathers should be invited and encouraged to attend prenatal, postnatal and child health visits to further support their coparenting relationship. Relative to primiparous fathers, multiparous fathers may require targeted and additional clinical support regarding their coparenting relationship. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE With fathers becoming more involved in childrearing, having stronger coparenting skills can help them better adapt to their parental roles. Our findings help understand how routine professional support from midwives and child health nurses are experienced among new fathers and that multiparous fathers are in further need of coparenting support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael B Wells
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lindsey R Gedaly
- Prevention Research Center, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Olov Aronson
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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7
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Favez N, Max A, Bader M, Tissot H. When not teaming up puts parents at risk: Coparenting and parental burnout in dual-parent heterosexual families in Switzerland. FAMILY PROCESS 2023; 62:272-286. [PMID: 35396850 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Parental burnout refers to loss of energy and pleasure in the parental role. It is predictive of psychopathological outcomes in parents and dysfunctional parenting behaviors. Support of parental duties is central to alleviation of parental burden and prevention of burnout. Coparenting is the concept related to interparental mutual support in rearing a child. However, the links between coparenting and parental burnout have yet to be assessed. We thus aimed in this study to assess which dimensions of coparenting are linked with parental burnout. A total of 306 participants from the French-speaking part of Switzerland (120 fathers, 186 mothers) completed online questionnaires about parental burnout, their coparental relationship, and sociodemographic characteristics. We performed hierarchical regressions, entering sociodemographic characteristics in a first block and coparenting dimensions in a second block. Results showed that (i) a higher number of children and having younger children are linked to higher burnout; (ii) coparenting exposure to conflict is related to higher burnout, whereas endorsement of the partner's parenting is related to lower burnout; and (iii) no interaction effect occurs between sociodemographic characteristics and coparenting variables. Coparenting thus significantly contributes to the occurrence of burnout syndrome. Working on the coparental relationship preventively in parental educational programs or at a relational systemic level in therapy may help prevent burnout. Treating one parent only may not be sufficient to alleviate burnout, as negative coparenting could counter the effect of individual therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Favez
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Aline Max
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Michel Bader
- University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hervé Tissot
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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8
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Trumello C, Ballarotto G, Ricciardi P, Paciello M, Marino V, Morelli M, Tambelli R, Babore A. Mothers and fathers of pre-school children: a study on parenting stress and child's emotional-behavioral difficulties. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 42:1-12. [PMID: 36035250 PMCID: PMC9395769 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03599-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to analyze the differences between maternal and paternal parenting stress and children's behavioral functioning, as determined by teacher and parent reports. In addition, it sought to evaluate the presence of clusters based on parenting stress and to determine whether perceptions of children's behavioral functioning varied across these clusters. The sample was composed of the parents and teachers of N = 201 children. Parents completed a self-report questionnaire on parenting stress and parents and teachers filled out report-form questionnaires assessing children's emotional and behavioral functioning. The results showed that mothers had higher levels of parenting stress than fathers, and both parents reported more prosocial behavior in children than did teachers. Furthermore, middle stressed parents had children who expressed more prosocial behavior than did parents in other clusters. The findings also showed that parenting stress influenced partners' perceptions of children's behavioral functioning. The multiplicity of child observers facilitated a better understanding of how parenting stress, linked to parent-child interactions, may play an important role in shaping parents' perceptions of their children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Trumello
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University G. d’Annunzio of Chieti, Chieti, Italy
| | - Giulia Ballarotto
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, via degli Apuli 1, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Piera Ricciardi
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University G. d’Annunzio of Chieti, Chieti, Italy
| | - Marinella Paciello
- Faculty of Psychology, International Telematic University Uninettuno, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Marino
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University G. d’Annunzio of Chieti, Chieti, Italy
| | - Mara Morelli
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, via degli Apuli 1, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Renata Tambelli
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, via degli Apuli 1, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Babore
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University G. d’Annunzio of Chieti, Chieti, Italy
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Favez N, Max A, Bader M, Tissot H. When Fathers Feel Socially Constrained to Assume a Role: A Negative Predictor of the Coparental Relationship in Switzerland. Front Psychol 2022; 12:752805. [PMID: 35046866 PMCID: PMC8761969 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.752805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Role distribution is a central issue for parents in the transition to parenthood, but little is known about the motivations in fathers to assume a specific role. Differences in work-family balance in each parent may be motivated by an individual choice mutually shared by both partners; however, in many couples, the parents may feel forced to adopt a traditional role distribution, either for financial reasons, or to comply with social expectations about what men and women should do when they are parents. This feeling of being socially constrained to adopt a role distribution that is not congruent with intrinsic motivations can generate dissatisfaction and may jeopardize the development of the interparental relationship. Coparenting refers to the emotional and instrumental support parents bring to each other in their parental tasks. It has been shown to be central in family functioning and a powerful predictor of children's emotional and cognitive development. In this study, we aimed to assess the extent to which different motivations for role distribution in fathers are predictive of the quality of the coparental relationship. A convenience sample of 144 fathers from the French-speaking part of Switzerland completed online questionnaires about their motivations, coparental relationship, and sociodemographic characteristics. Results showed that the reasons for role distribution were mainly economical, practical, and in order to meet personal expectations. Multivariate general linear modeling showed that role distribution that is constrained to meet social expectations and age were predictive of a less cohesive coparental relationship, whereas a deliberate choice in role distribution was linked to a more cohesive coparental relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Favez
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Aline Max
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Michel Bader
- Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hervé Tissot
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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10
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Zhu Y, Zhang G, Anme T. Patterns of adverse childhood experiences among Chinese preschool parents and the intergenerational transmission of risk to offspring behavioural problems: moderating by coparenting quality. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2022; 13:2137913. [PMID: 36387949 PMCID: PMC9648376 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2022.2137913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Although intergenerational transmission of ACEs among parents and their offspring have been extensively studied in the West, few studies have been conducted in China on preschool children and their parents, and explore the protective fact for the intergeneration transmission. Objective: Using latent class analysis and moderation model, this study examined the associations between patterns of adverse childhood experiences of Chinese preschool parents and behavioural problems in their children and whether coparenting quality plays a protective role in this relationship. Method: A retrospective study was conducted on 3091 parent-child dyads from 11 kindergartens in the northern, central, and southern Anhui provinces in China. Online questionnaires were used to collect the data. Parents reported adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and provided information on their children's behavioural problems and perceived coparenting quality. Latent class analysis and a moderating model were used to examine the associations between patterns of adverse childhood experiences of Chinese preschool parents and behavioural problems in their children, and the moderating role of coparenting quality. Results: Four classes were identified: a high ACEs group, a violent victimisation group, a child abuse and physical neglect group, and a low ACEs group. Increasing levels of co-parenting quality were associated with reduced parent-reported child behaviour problems for all classes, and that potentially buffering effect was significantly stronger for the low ACEs class than for children whose parents in high ACEs class. Conclusions: Exposure to high ACEs increases the risk of developing behavioural problems in offspring, and coparenting quality may serve as a protective mechanism for intergenerational transmission. Future research should develop and implement interventions to support disadvantaged, at-risk parents and promote coparenting quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yantong Zhu
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Gengli Zhang
- Faculty of Educational Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, People's Republic of China
| | - Tokie Anme
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
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11
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Kachi Y, Ochi M, Kato T, Otsuka M, Takehara K. Factors related to parenting stress among fathers of preschool children in Japan. Pediatr Int 2022; 64:e15132. [PMID: 35411994 DOI: 10.1111/ped.15132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Even though fathers participate in childcare at a higher rate than before, there remains a lack of research on the factors that contribute to parenting stress among fathers. This study explored the socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with parenting stress among fathers of preschool children. METHODS Our study included 17 645 fathers who participated in the 2016 Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions in Japan. Parenting stress was assessed using a single question. Socioeconomic and demographic factors were predictors. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for parenting stress. RESULTS Overall, 6.6% fathers experienced parenting stress. Fathers with a youngest child aged 0-2 years were more likely to experience parenting stress than those with a youngest child aged 3-6 (OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.25-1.68). Compared with fathers who lived in two-parent households without grandparents, those who lived in single-father households (both with and without grandparents) were more likely to experience parenting stress (OR: 12.13, 95% CI: 5.60-26.29 and OR: 4.19, 95% CI: 2.04-8.60, respectively). Furthermore, there was a significant negative association between education and parenting stress. CONCLUSIONS Having a child aged 0-2 years, single fatherhood, and higher education were associated with parenting stress among fathers of preschool children. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of these factors when supporting fathers in raising their children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Kachi
- Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.,Department of Social Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Manami Ochi
- Department of Health and Welfare Services, National Institute of Public Health, Wako-shi, Saitama, Japan
| | - Tsuguhiko Kato
- Department of Social Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Miyako Otsuka
- Department of Health Policy, National Center for Child Health and Development, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenji Takehara
- Department of Health Policy, National Center for Child Health and Development, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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12
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Choi JK, Becher EH. Supportive Coparenting, Parenting Stress, Harsh Parenting, and Child Behavior Problems in Nonmarital Families. FAMILY PROCESS 2019; 58:404-417. [PMID: 29924390 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Supportive coparenting is an identified protective factor for child development and behavioral outcomes. What is less known is how supportive coparenting dynamically links with other aspects of parenting and parent well-being, particularly in multi-stressed nonmarital families. This study used data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study, analyzed within a structural equation model, to explore how mothers' experience of maternal depression, maternal age, father education, and SES interacted with their parenting stress and supportive coparenting to impact child behavioral problems and harsh parenting practices. Among the findings, more supportive coparenting was found to be significantly associated with fewer child behavioral problems and less harsh parenting. Transmitted through supportive coparenting and parenting stress acting as mediator, maternal depressive symptoms were indirectly and positively related to harsh parenting practices and child behavior problems. These findings are discussed within the context of the broader literature and next steps for research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong-Kyun Choi
- Department of Child, Youth & Family Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
| | - Emily H Becher
- Extension Center for Family Development, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN
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13
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Le Y, Fredman SJ, McDaniel BT, Laurenceau JP, Feinberg ME. Cross-day influences between couple closeness and coparenting support among new parents. JOURNAL OF FAMILY PSYCHOLOGY : JFP : JOURNAL OF THE DIVISION OF FAMILY PSYCHOLOGY OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (DIVISION 43) 2019; 33:360-369. [PMID: 30570281 PMCID: PMC6449211 DOI: 10.1037/fam0000489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The couple and coparenting relationships are demonstrated to be prospectively and bidirectionally associated over months to years during the early parenting years. However, little is known about these associations at the daily level within the first year of parenthood, when coparenting first emerges. The goal of the current study was to examine the association between couples' daily feelings of relationship closeness and coparenting support in first-time parents and determine directionality of these effects using a dyadic daily diary design. At 10 months postpartum, heterosexual couples (N = 141 dyads) completed daily diaries for 8 consecutive days. An autoregressive cross-lagged model was incorporated within an Actor Partner Interdependence Modeling framework to examine at the daily level: (a) within-person cross-day associations between relationship closeness and coparenting support, (b) cross-partner cross-day associations within relationship closeness and coparenting support, (c) cross-partner cross-day associations between relationship closeness and coparenting support, and (d) gender differences in these associations. Results revealed a prospective, within person bidirectional link between daily relationship closeness and perceived coparenting support for both mothers and fathers. Additionally, an indirect effect from mothers' experiences of coparenting support to fathers' relationship closeness through fathers' experiences of coparenting support was found at the daily level. Findings highlight the interdependent nature of the couple and coparenting relationship at the daily level during the first year of parenthood and suggest that mothers' feeling supported by their coparenting partners may facilitate a "virtuous cycle" between coparenting support and relationship closeness early in the coparenting relationship. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunying Le
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies
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Bernardi L, Bollmann G, Potarca G, Rossier J. Multidimensionality of Well-Being and Spillover Effects Across Life Domains: How Do Parenthood and Personality Affect Changes in Domain-Specific Satisfaction? RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/15427609.2016.1268893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Bernardi
- Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research: LIVES, University of Lausanne
- Institute of Social Sciences, University of Lausanne
| | - Grégoire Bollmann
- Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research: LIVES, University of Lausanne
- Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne
| | - Gina Potarca
- Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research: LIVES, University of Lausanne
- Institute of Social Sciences, University of Lausanne
| | - Jérôme Rossier
- Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research: LIVES, University of Lausanne
- Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne
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Impact of maternal prenatal and parental postnatal stress on 1-year-old child development: results from the OTIS antidepressants in pregnancy study. Arch Womens Ment Health 2016; 19:835-43. [PMID: 26957509 DOI: 10.1007/s00737-016-0624-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 02/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Perinatal psychological stress has been associated with unfavorable maternal and neonatal outcomes. We aimed to assess the impact of perinatal stress on infant development at 1 year of age. We recruited pregnant women calling North American Teratogen Information Services or attending outpatient clinics at CHU Sainte Justine (Montreal) between 2008 and 2010 and their spouses. To be part of our study, women had to be (1) >18 years of age, (2) <15 weeks of gestational age at recruitment, (3) living within 250-km radius of Montreal, and (4) taking antidepressants or non-teratogenic drugs. Stress was assessed using the telephone-administered four-item perceived stress scale during pregnancy in mothers and at 2 months postpartum in both parents. Child development at 1 year of age was evaluated with the Bayley III scales. Socio-demographic and potential confounders were collected through telephone interviews. Multivariable linear regression models were built to assess the association between perinatal parental stress and child development. Overall, 71 couples and their infants were included. When adjusted for potential confounders, maternal prenatal stress was positively associated with motor development (adjusted β = 1.85, CI 95 % (0.01, 3.70)). Postpartum maternal and paternal stresses were negatively associated with motor and socio-emotional development, respectively (adjusted β = -1.54, CI 95 % (-3.07, -0.01) and adjusted β = -1.67, CI 95 % (-3.25, -0.10), respectively). Maternal and paternal postnatal stress seems to be harmful for the motor and socio-emotional development in 1-year-old children. No association was demonstrated between parental stress and cognitive, language, and adaptive behavioral development. However, prenatal maternal stress appears to improve motor skills.
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Schoppe-Sullivan SJ, Settle T, Lee JK, Kamp Dush CM. Supportive Coparenting Relationships as a Haven of Psychological Safety at the Transition to Parenthood. RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT 2016; 13:32-48. [PMID: 29056880 DOI: 10.1080/15427609.2016.1141281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Guided by research on psychological safety, we used longitudinal survey data from a sample of 182 dual-earner male-female couples to examine the role of supportive coparenting in mediating relations between adult attachment orientations and parenting stress/satisfaction, and further considered whether parenting self-efficacy moderated relations between supportive coparenting and parenting stress/satisfaction. Path analyses using IBM SPSS AMOS 22 and bootstrapping techniques indicated that fathers' (but not mothers') perceptions of supportive coparenting at 3 months postpartum mediated the associations between their attachment anxiety in the third trimester of pregnancy and their parenting stress and satisfaction at 9 months postpartum. Additional tests of moderation revealed that mothers' perceptions of greater supportive coparenting were associated with lower parenting stress only when their parenting self-efficacy was low, but fathers' perceptions of greater supportive coparenting were associated with greater parenting satisfaction only when their parenting self-efficacy was high. Implications and limitations are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jin-Kyung Lee
- Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University
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