Mediating Effects of Parental Stress on Harsh Parenting and Parent-Child Relationship during Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic in Singapore

Examining the impact of occupational stress and shift work schedules on the cognitive functions among firefighters in normal condition

Background:Firefighters are exposed to a wide range of psychological and physical hazards. Objective: The present study, in 2023 was conducted to investigate the impact of job-related stress and shift work on the cognitive abilities of firefighters in an oil field located in western Iran. Methods: The cognitive performance and job stress levels of study participants were evaluated using IVA-2 software version 2020 and OSIPOW questionnaire, respectively. Results were analyzed using SPSS software version 2022. Results: The study found a significant discrepancy in cognitive performance between day and night shifts (P < 0.001) for firefighters. During the day shift, Auditory Persistence and Visual Stamina had the highest (100.88) and lowest (84.04) scores, respectively, while the night shift had higher scores in Auditory Speed and Visual Sensory-Motor. Overall, cognitive performance was better during the day shift, but both shifts had a notable gap in average scores with a baseline. Shift work is connected to role duality (P < 0.05), responsibility (P < 0.001), and the physical environment (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the attention scale is connected to the physical environment (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Firefighters' performance is impacted by shift work and job stress, even under normal conditions. To maintain and improve cognitive abilities, corrective actions should focus on improving efficiency, creating suitable working conditions, and improving shift work management. Prioritizing individual responsibility is also suggested based on the correlation between stress and cognitive performance.

Brief Report: The Impact of COVID-19 on Parental Stress and Learning Challenges for Chinese Children with SpLD

The pandemic induced a radical shift to online learning with increased parental involvement. This study investigates the challenges that students with specific learning difficulties (SpLD) encountered during the pandemic and the mediating role of parental stress. A total of 294 parents of children with SpLD (mean age = 10.6; SD = 1.5) were recruited. Parents reported concerns over their children's difficulties maintaining learning routines, lack of suitable environment for online classes, and ineffective remote learning. Results of mediation analysis showed that online learning challenges, SpLD symptoms, and emotional and behavioral difficulties positively predicted parental stress. In turn, parental stress negatively predicted children's self-esteem and family quality of life. The study implies that parents of children with SpLD need both psychological and technical support under suspension of face-to-face teaching.

Actor-Partner Model of Parenting and Co-Parenting Practices and Youth Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The present research examined parents' perspectives of co-parenting and supportive and hostile parenting as predictors of youth resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were 47 mother/father dyads who had at least one K-12 child (Mage = 11.40, SD = 3.92). Mothers and fathers each completed an online survey that measured parenting, co-parenting, and youth resilience during the pandemic. Data were analyzed using the actor-partner interdependence model. Results revealed a positive relationship between mother supportiveness and perceived youth resilience; in contrast, increased father supportiveness was associated with lower perceived youth resilience. For both mothers and fathers, increases in their own hostility were associated with decreased perceived youth resilience and more positive co-parenting predicted greater resilience. Overall, findings showed that maternal supportiveness, parent hostility, and co-parenting were significantly related to youth resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study highlights the role of maternal supportiveness in youth resilience and the importance of including mother and father perspectives when examining the effects of parenting. Findings also have implications for family interventions and policies that facilitate youth resiliency by demonstrating the need to address both parent-child and co-parenting relationships during times of adversity.

Psychosocial stress in families of young children after the pandemic: no time to rest

BACKGROUND

During the pandemic, parenting stress and mental health challenges for both parents and children have increased. However, the lasting repercussions for families remain largely unexplored. Additionally, young families currently face stressors such as economic inflation, the Russia-Ukraine War, and the climate crisis, whose impacts on families are not yet understood. The primary aim of the study is therefore to evaluate parenting stress as well as child and parent mental health problems in the postpandemic era. Additionally, the study seeks to identify potential predictors of parenting stress and mental health issues in parents.

METHODS

From February 2023 to March 2024, we conducted a digital cross-sectional study involving families (N = 17,333) with children aged 0-9 years in Bavaria (Southern Germany) to examine parenting stress and mental health issues among both parents and children in light of current societal challenges. Validated questionnaires were used to gather data, and potential factors contributing to parenting stress were investigated.

RESULTS

We found that 53.7% of parents scored above the cut-off value, indicating that they experienced moderate to high levels of parenting stress. Additionally, 13.5% showed signs of anxiety symptoms, while 14.6% exhibited indications of depression according to cut-off values. Additionally, 34.9% of the infants (0-24 months) had crying and/or sleeping difficulties, whereas emotional and behavioral problems were observed in 8.7 of the toddlers (2-4 years) and 10.4% of the pre- and primary schoolers (˃ 4 years). Economic inflation was perceived as stressful or very stressful for 59.3% of parents, with radicalization and social division (49.3%), the Russia-Ukraine War (37.9%), and the climate crisis (31.8%) also cited as sources of stress. For 31.6% of families, the lingering effects of the pandemic continued to be a (major) burden. Across all age groups, children's mental health issues and societal challenges were the primary predictors of parenting stress.

CONCLUSION

Our study underscores that psychosocial stressors for families with children remain pronounced even postpandemic. Moreover, our findings highlight the impact of broader societal trends, such as economic inflation and social division, on family well-being. Addressing these stressors and promoting the mental health of infants while bolstering parental resilience by alleviating parenting stress should be key priorities for healthcare initiatives in the aftermath of COVID-19.

Parenting stress and pandemic burden in families with crying, sleeping, and feeding problems during COVID-19: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Families with child crying, sleeping, and feeding problems are a vulnerable group due to high levels of parenting stress and an increased risk for child abuse. However, little is known about their specific situation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of our study was to assess parenting stress and pandemic burden / constraints in families with child crying, sleeping, and feeding problems (= clinical sample) compared to a non-clinical sample. First, we hypothesized that parenting stress during the pandemic would be higher in the clinical sample compared to the nonclinical sample. Moreover, we aimed to explore the extent to which pandemic-related burden / constraints were perceived as restrictive and whether they differed between the two groups. Last, we intended to explore which pandemic-related constraints were associated with parenting stress during the pandemic, controlled for demographic variables.

METHODS

Using a case-control matched design, standardized questionnaire data from N = 142 parents of children aged 0-24 months, drawn from two different studies (clinical sample: n = 71, nonclinical sample: n = 71) were analyzed. Groups were compared using paired sample t-tests and variables associated with parenting stress were analyzed using a multiple linear regression model.

RESULTS

Parenting stress (p <.001, dz=0.64) and overall pandemic burden (p =.034, dz=0.26) were higher in the clinical group compared to the nonclinical group, whereas groups did not differ significantly in terms of specific pandemic-related constraints. Both groups reported being burdened especially by restricted leisure activities (79.6%) and reduced family support services (74%). Parenting stress was associated with child age (β=-0.20, p =.024), the presence of siblings (β=-0.21, p =.034), overall pandemic burden (β = 0.25, p =.009), increased childcare responsibilities (β = 0.19, p =.046), and increased family conflicts (β = 0.29, p <.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Families with crying, sleeping, and feeding problems experienced high levels of parenting stress and were significantly burdened by the pandemic itself. Thus, as a double-risk group during the pandemic, they require targeted attention in prevention and intervention efforts, including access to professional support and opportunities for safe social connection and leisure activities.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical group: German Register of Clinical Studies DRKS00019001, registration date: 2020-01-28, nonclinical group: OSF, https://osf.io/tksh5 , registration date: 2021-01-15.

The relationship between maternal emotional self-disclosure and children's anxiety in the post-COVID-19 era

BACKGROUND

Following pandemics, anxiety often remains prevalent within families, particularly among mothers, even after the acute phase. Mothers typically engage in increased emotional self-disclosure and interactions with family members, which can promote improved mental health and strengthen family dynamics through the shared expression and management of psychological concerns. This study aimed to determine the relationship between maternal emotional self-disclosure and children's anxiety in the post-COVID-19 era.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional correlation study, 305 mothers of elementary school children in Borujerd, Lorestan, Iran, in 2022 were included using a multi-stage sampling method. Data collection tools comprised demographic questionnaires, the Emotional Self-Disclosure Scale, and the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale-Parent Report, all of which were completed by mothers as self-reports. Independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation test, and multivariate regression were employed to analyze the data.

RESULTS

There was a negative and significant correlation between mothers' emotional self-disclosure and children's anxiety (r = -0.890, P < 0.001) which remained significant after controlling for confounding variables (B = -0.667, P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in mothers' mean emotional self-disclosure scores based on their place of residence, education, occupation, and their spouse's age, education, and occupation, as well as the child's sex, educational level, and age (P < 0.001). However, the results were insignificant concerning the mother's age (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

There was an inverse and relatively strong relationship between maternal emotional self-disclosure and child anxiety. This indicates that an increase in maternal emotional self-disclosure was associated with a reduction in child anxiety. Therefore, in similar crises, managing and promoting emotional self-disclosure among mothers may help in reducing children's anxiety, particularly in mothers who are well-educated, employed, reside in urban areas; have younger, well-educated, and employed spouses; and have female children with younger age and lower educational levels.

Mother-Adolescent Relationship and Psychological Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study

INTRODUCTION

This study aims to investigate how mother-adolescent relationships evolved before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and their correlation with pandemic-related stress and adolescents' psychological distress.

METHODS

A longitudinal study involving 579 mother-adolescent dyads (junior high school students at Time 1; 50% male students) was conducted, with data collected before (October 2019) and during (October 2020) the pandemic in Japan. Both mothers and adolescents reported the perceived quality of their positive and conflictual relationships at each time point. At Time 2, assessments were made regarding perceived pandemic-related stress and adolescent psychological distress.

RESULTS

Structural equation modeling, cross-lagged regression, and mediation analysis revealed that perceptions of relationships by both mothers and adolescents before the pandemic predicted and sustained their own and their partners' perceptions during the pandemic. Furthermore, adolescents' perceptions of positive relationships with mothers protected against adolescents' distress. Otherwise, their perceptions of conflictual relationships with mothers posed a risk for adolescents' psychological distress. Additionally, the maintenance of adolescents' higher perception of positive relationships with their mothers was mediated by their perceived higher pandemic-related stress.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings underscore the reciprocal and additive nature of mothers' and adolescents' perceptions of relationship quality, which in turn predict adolescents' mental health during stressful situations like a pandemic. Moreover, adolescents are encouraged not to suppress negative feelings about stress, to enhance perceptions of a positive relationship perceptions with their mother.

Maternal drinking, stress and use of aggressive parenting over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic

AIMS

The COVID-19 pandemic had a demonstrated impact on parenting but little is known about how parental drinking, stress, and use of aggressive discipline (a parenting behavior associated with abusive parenting and negative outcomes for children) have changed over time. We examine rates of alcohol use, stress, and aggressive discipline at three time points during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigate what maternal, child, and time-varying factors predict weekly use of aggressive parenting.

METHODS

We use longitudinal data from the Central Ohio Family Study (COFLS), including women (n = 234) with a child between the ages of 0-12 and recruited via Facebook, Craigslist.org, and word of mouth. Participants completed an on-line survey for 3 consecutive years beginning in April-May 2020 and 1 and 2 years later. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to examine use of aggressive discipline at the three time points, controlling for time-varying, and maternal and child characteristics.

RESULTS

Past week use of aggressive discipline peaked in Wave 1 (35.9%) and decreased at Wave 2 (3.8%) and Wave 3 (28.2%; OR = .463; 95% CI: .369, .580). Parental stress (OR = 1.052; 95% CI: 1.010, 1.096), social isolation (OR = 1.412; 95% CI: 1.197, 1.668), social companionship (OR = 1.113; 95% CI: 1.007, 1.229), and frequency of drinking (OR = 1.049; 95% CI: 1.014, 1.085) were significantly related to higher odds of using aggressive discipline over the three waves.

CONCLUSIONS

Although rates of aggressive discipline declined, frequency of drinking and stress demonstrated a consistent pattern in relation to aggressive discipline during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Is There a Vicious Cycle Between Parental Burnout and Parent-Adolescent Conflict? A Three-Wave Within-Family Analytic Approach

Parental burnout is a chronic condition of experiencing exhaustion, inefficacy, and emotional distance in one's parental role. Given the detrimental influence of parental burnout on both parents and children, it is important to study the antecedents and consequences of parental burnout, particularly at the within-family level. Using a three-wave sample of 443 Chinese parents (70% mothers; mean age = 41.81 years, SD = 3.81 years) of middle school adolescents (50% girls; mean age = 13.35 years, SD = 0.36 years), the present study examined the transactional processes between parental burnout and parent-adolescent conflict. Random intercept cross-lagged panel modeling allowed the present study to focus on within-family effects by using random intercepts to account for between-family effects. In this way, this study can rule out time-invariant confounds by focusing on whether the ups and downs of parental burnout at a family level contribute to the changes in parent-adolescent conflict, and vice versa. At the within-family level, parental burnout predicted greater parent-adolescent conflict over time, and parent-adolescent conflict also predicted greater parental burnout over time. Notably, multigroup comparisons showed that the link from parent-adolescent conflict to parental burnout was only significant among parents with lower but not higher educational attainment, and the link from parental burnout to parent-adolescent conflict was only evident among mothers but not fathers. Taken together, the findings suggest that parental burnout and parent-adolescent conflict positively shape and sustain one another over time, highlighting the necessity to adapt the designs of family conflict interventions in treating and preventing parental burnout.

How dispositional optimism-pessimism relates to early adolescents' emotional maladjustment during COVID-19? Moderating roles of knowledge about the disease and parent-child conflicts

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated containment measures changed the daily lives of children and adolescents around the world. To investigate the individual differences in emotional maladjustment under the COVID-19 pandemic, this study focused on the roles of dispositional optimism-pessimism, knowledge about the COVID-19 disease, and conflicts with parents among Chinese early adolescents.

Method

edge about the COVID-19 disease, and conflicts with parents among Chinese early adolescents. The participants were 2,958 early adolescents aged 10 to 14 years old who completed online questionnaires during the pandemic.

Results

While higher pessimism and lower optimism both led to increased emotional maladjustment, pessimism made a greater contribution. Knowledge about the disease and parent-child conflicts were both risk factors for adolescents' emotional maladjustment, yet optimism and pessimism interacted with different factors. More knowledge about the disease intensified the effect of pessimism, and more parent-conflict undermined the effect of optimism.

Discussion

Our findings provide directions for future aid in adolescence during hard periods depending on one's personality.

Couples and parenting dynamics during Covid-19 pandemic: A systematic review of the literature

The COVID-19 pandemic constituted a public health crisis bound to impact couples, parents, and families globally. However, the literature on the impacts of COVID-19 in families is not yet integrated. This systematic review aims to (1) provide an overview of how the COVID-19 pandemic potentially changed family systems, especially the couples and parenting dynamics, as well as (2) integrate inconsistent findings, and, finally, (3) define new avenues for research and clinical practice. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined for this review. The data was collected in bibliographic databases using a combination of keywords. The study includes empirical research published in English, Spanish, Italian, or Portuguese, appearing in peer-reviewed journals, focusing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the functioning of different-gender or same-gender couples, married or cohabitating, or cohabitating parents with children aged 2 to 18, between April 2020 and December 2023. Within 381 articles, 58 studies met the inclusion criteria, which 50 were quantitative, four qualitative, and four mixed methods studies. A qualitative thematic analysis of the reviewed articles identified 12 categories that were organized by stress sources, mediators, and outcomes. There is consistent evidence across the literature showing some sources of stress during COVID-19, such as Gender Inequalities (e.g., Unequal Division of Household Duties and Lack of Support for Mothers), and External Stress. Also, we identified some themes on the mediators such as Coping Strategies (e.g., Dyadic Support, Communication as a Mediator and Adaptation to New Daily Routines) and finally as outcomes, Lower Psychological Well-Being, and Relational Growth. However, some inconsistencies were found in Relationship (In) Satisfaction, Sexual Functioning and Communication as an Outcome. Explorations of moderators showed that these inconsistencies should be understood in reference to (1) quality assessment (2) coping and (3) income. After conducting a comprehensive analysis of inconsistencies, our study revealed no notable differences in either relationship satisfaction or sexual frequency before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, a decline in sexual satisfaction was observed during the COVID-19 period. No conclusive associations were identified between income, relationship satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, sexual frequency, and stress related to COVID-19. Nonetheless, our observations indicated that individuals with moderate or high income, in conjunction with the implementation of effective coping strategies, exhibited a diminished impact of COVID-19-related stress on both relationship satisfaction and sexual functioning. Future studies should focus on a dyadic perspective at various stages of the family cycle, including longitudinal perspectives, as well as studies focused on the role of dyadic coping during times of crises. Findings must be considered with caution because not all studies had equal methodological rigor.

Association among parents' stress recovery experiences, parenting practices, and children's behavioral problems: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Parents can experience much stress from parenting, work, and household responsibilities. Parents' stress recovery experiences, or their lack thereof, can affect parenting practices and influence children's behavioral problems, which may thereby lead to difficulties for children later in life. Therefore, the relationships among these three factors deserve consideration. This study tested a model of the mediating role of parenting practices in the relationship between parents' stress recovery experiences and children's behavioral problems.

METHODS

Parents (N = 1,112) of 14-year-old children in the third year of junior high school in Japan completed a questionnaire, yielding 583 valid responses. To accurately determine the relationship among parents' stress recovery experiences, parenting practices, and children's behavioral problems, parents of children diagnosed with developmental disabilities and parents who did not respond to the required items in the questionnaire were excluded from the analysis. As a result, 536 of the 583 (89.0%) parents met the inclusion criteria. We conducted a path analysis, following the hypothesis that parents' stress recovery experiences, via their parenting practices, are associated with children's behavioral problems.

RESULTS

The path analysis results indicated that parents' stress recovery experiences of relaxation and mastery were positively associated with positive nurturing attitudes, whereas mastery and control were negatively associated with negative nurturing attitudes. Furthermore, positive nurturing attitudes were negatively associated with externalizing and internalizing problem behaviors, whereas negative nurturing attitudes were positively associated with externalizing and internalizing problem behaviors. In other words, the hypothesis that parents' stress recovery experiences of relaxation, mastery, and control reduce children's behavioral problems via promoting nurturing parental attitudes was supported.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that the higher the level of parents' stress recovery experiences, the lower the level of reported children's behavioral problems. Parents' stress recovery experiences correlated with parenting practices, which partially mediated the relationship of the parents' stress recovery with children's behavioral problems. The suggestion is that increasing parents' stress recovery experiences, improving parenting practices and related behaviors, and strengthening the parent-child relationship are important measures that can be mutually beneficial for parents, children, and the overall family relationship.

Infant Crying, Sleeping, and Feeding Problems in Times of Societal Crises: The Mediating Role of Parenting Stress on Parenting Behavior in Fathers and Mothers

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Infant regulatory problems (RPs), i.e., crying, sleeping, and feeding problems, are associated with unfavorable outcomes in later childhood. RPs increased during the pandemic; however, their occurrence in the face of today's societal challenges remains unclear. RPs are strongly linked to parenting stress and less positive parenting behaviors, but their interplay is less investigated.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study (ntotal = 7039), we compared the incidences of crying, sleeping, and feeding problems in infants (0-2 years) in pandemic (npandemic = 1391) versus post-pandemic (npost-pandemic = 5648) samples in Germany. We also investigated the relationship between post-pandemic infant RPs and parenting behaviors with parenting stress as a potential mediator for fathers and mothers.

RESULTS

Crying/whining/sleeping problems (34.8%) and excessive crying (6.3%) were significantly more prevalent in the post-pandemic sample. In both mothers and fathers, infant RPs were significantly associated with less positive parenting behaviors. Parenting stress partially mediated this relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

RPs in the post-pandemic era are even more prevalent than during the pandemic, highlighting the imperative for health care professionals to focus on infant mental health. Parenting stress emerges as an entry point for addressing the cycle of infant RPs and maladaptive behaviors in both fathers and mothers.

The COVID-19 pandemic and social cognitive outcomes in early childhood

The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdowns led to sweeping changes in the everyday lives of children and families, including school closures, remote work and learning, and social distancing. To date no study has examined whether these profound changes in young children's day to day social interactions impacted the development of social cognition skills in early childhood. To address this question, we compared the performance of two cohorts of 3.5- to 5.5-year-old children tested before and after the COVID-19 lockdowns on several measures of false-belief understanding, a critical social cognition skill that undergoes important developments in this age range. Controlling for age and language skills, children tested after the pandemic demonstrated significantly worse false-belief understanding than those tested before the pandemic, and this difference was larger for children from lower socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds. These results suggest that the pandemic negatively impacted the development of social cognition skills in early childhood, especially for lower SES children.

Trends in changes of family functioning during different phases of the pandemic - findings across four population-based surveys between 2020 to 2023 in Germany

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated measures have had a significant impact on millions of individuals and families worldwide. Although cross-sectional studies have demonstrated the considerable burden placed on families during the pandemic, trends over different phases of the pandemic including later stages and using population-based samples is scarce.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aimed to assess trends in family functioning across four population-based surveys between December 2020 and March 2023 using a repeated cross-sectional design. The surveys were conducted using a similar sampling strategy and measures. We included individuals residing in a household with at least one minor below the age of 16.

RESULTS

The most notable changes across surveys over time were related to quality of life. While 54.3% of respondents reported a decline in quality of life during the winter of 20/21 compared to pre-pandemic levels, this was observed in only 22.6% of participants during the spring of 23. The proportion of respondents who indicated a deterioration in their relations with their children also decreased during the pandemic. While 9.9% of respondents reported a deterioration in their relationship with their children during the winter of 20/21 in comparison to the initial phase of the pandemic, this was reported by only 5.2% in the spring 23. The relationship with one's partner and health status exhibited minimal fluctuations. Mental health problems were associated with a decline in quality of life, health status and relationships with children and partners compared to pre-pandemic levels at all time points. Moreover, lower income levels were associated with poorer relationship quality with the partner in the most recent wave.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate significant improvements in family functioning since the onset of the pandemic, indicating that individuals and families in our sample were generally adapting well. However, a subgroup of the population still reports suboptimal family functioning compared to before the pandemic. Psychosocial care and social policy support for families are needed.

Determinants of Positive Evolution of Symptoms in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) during the COVID-19 Lockdown in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (DRC)

Lockdown imposed by the COVID 19 pandemic increased the time families spent together at home. A negative impact of the lock-down on children with autism has been reported. Few studies described the positive impact of parents' presence on the severity of their children's autism symptoms during lockdown. To describe the positive impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the evolution of Children' Symptoms with autism and parents' emotional status and to determine which variables had a positive or negative impact on the severity of autism features in Kinshasa. From April 15 to July 15, 2020, we analyzed the evolution of core symptoms of 68 children with autism and correlated these findings with the presence of a parent at home during lockdown. We performed multivariate logistic regression to assess the factors associated to autism symptoms improvement after adjustment by sex, age at ASD diagnosis, education, parent occupation, child's occupancy time, presence of parent's depression, and presence of comorbidities and core symptoms in children. Parents reported ASD symptom improvement in 42.6% of children. Factors positively associate with ASD symptoms improvement were presence of a parent for more than 8 h per day, improvement of social communication and autonomy. In contrast, severe to moderate depression in parents and presence of main comorbidities in children were associated with more severe autistic symptoms in their children. The presence of a parent at home, improved child communication and autonomy improved autism symptoms. On the other hand, parental depression and comorbidities in children with ASD aggravated the symptoms during lockdown in Kinshasa/DRC. These findings emphasize the importance of the physical presence of parents as well as the length of time they spend with their children with ASD. In addition, they show that depressive feelings in parents and comorbidities in ASD have a negative impact in the severity of their symptoms during lockdown.

Association Between Harsh Disciplinary Methods and Child Functioning in Children Aged 7-14 Years in Punjab, Pakistan

Despite having adverse physical and mental health outcomes, harsh disciplinary methods are commonly practiced all over the world. This study aims to measure the harsh disciplinary actions taken by parents and their association with child functioning in children, aged 7 to 14 years in Punjab, Pakistan. This study is based on secondary data obtained from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF's) Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, conducted in the Punjab province from 2017 to 2018. Parents/caregivers of 19,721 children were included in the analysis. Questionnaire-based interviews were conducted, and the data collection form included sociodemographic information, questions on different "Methods of Child Discipline" and the "Child functioning module." The data was analyzed using STATA 15.0. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to calculate the adjusted odds ratio and 95% CI exploring the association between harsh disciplinary methods and child functioning. More than 50% of children were exposed to severe physical, psychological, and emotional disciplinary methods. Exposure to severe physical aggression was associated with increased difficulty in learning (2.60 [1.27, 5.31]), remembering (2.83 [1.47, 5.44]), controlling behavior (1.63 [1.21, 2.18]), anxiety (1.98 [1.25, 3.13]), depression (2.57 [1.57, 4.22]) and making friends (1.94 [1.01, 3.79]). Whereas moderate physical aggression and psychological aggression were associated with (1.48 [1.19, 1.84]) and 1.5 times (1.20, 1.84) increase in difficulty in controlling behavior, respectively. Nonviolent actions were associated with protective odds for self-care (0.33 [0.17, 0.65]), communication (0.51 [0.27, 0.96]), learning (0.56 [0.33, 0.95]), remembering (0.62 [0.39, 0.90]), concentration (0.50 [0.31, 0.80]), anxiety (0.60 [0.46, 0.79]) and depression (0.67 [0.49, 0.92]). Severe disciplinary methods are detrimental to the child's personal care, mental, social, emotional, and psychological well-being, whereas nonviolent actions are associated with positive child functioning. In a third-world country such as Pakistan, this topic is widely undiscovered and understudied, thus emphasizing the need for awareness and education of parents and healthcare providers.

The potential influences of COVID-19 and social vulnerability measures on child maltreatment in the United States: Spatial temporal cluster analysis and negative binomial regression

BACKGROUND

Although existing research has reported the impacts of COVID-19 on child abuse and neglect (CAN), little attention was paid to the relationship between spatial patterns in the trends of COVID-19 cases and their effects on the prevalence of CAN cases.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the associations between trends of confirmed cases of COVID-19 and child removal due to physical abuse and neglect at the county level in the U.S while taking the social vulnerability into account.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

This study utilized three secondary data sets nationally collected.

METHODS

Spatial-temporal cluster analysis was used to classify and assign trends in confirmed cases of COVID-19 into their distinctive clusters. These spatial-temporal clusters were then used as independent variables in the negative binomial regression (NBR) models.

RESULTS

Average cases of physical abuse and neglect increased as the growth rates of confirmed cases of COVID-19 were accelerated except for the counties assigned to the cluster characterized by moderately low increase and very high increases. NBR found social vulnerability measures have no effects on child removal due to physical abuse and neglect after controlling spatial-temporal clusters of the confirmed cases of COVID-19.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicates that concentration of disaster has certain effects on child maltreatment. This suggests that child welfare pay special attention to the areas that undergo steep increases in confirmed cases under public health crises.

Within-couple comparison of maternal and paternal distress in an Italian birth cohort

OBJECTIVE

This study compared parental distress in 166 couples, using the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF), in the Italian NASCITA cohort at the two-year well-child visits. The study explored the concordance of distress levels within couples (aim 1) and their correlation with child-related stressors (aim 2).

BACKGROUND

Previous studies focused on maternal distress or considered maternal and paternal experiences separately, without addressing differences within couples.

METHOD

Data on parental distress were collected from the PSI-SF completed separately by parents. The total score was derived from three subscales, with high distress defined by a score above 85. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test compared the total PSI-SF scores of mothers and fathers. The prevalence of high distress was assessed using chi-square tests, and concordance between parents within the same couple was estimated using Cohen's K statistic. Chi-square tests were also used to compare distress levels in parents exposed to potential child-related stressors versus those not exposed.

RESULTS

A slightly higher total score (z = -2.45; p = 0.01) was observed in mothers versus fathers, although the prevalence of distress was similar (15.1% vs. 13.9%, respectively; p = 0.76). Nine children (5.4%) had both parents distressed. Agreement in the high level of distress was observed for 81.9% of the couples, with a fair agreement on the total score (Cohen's K = 0.27).The percentage of children with both distressed parents was slightly higher in the group exposed to potential stressors (6.6% vs. 4%, p = 0.49).

CONCLUSIONS

It is essential to evaluate distress in parents exposed to potential stressors related to child characteristics early. This assessment should be part of the pediatric family practice to prevent adverse outcomes in both child and parental wellbeing.

Self-Perceived Stress and the Personality of Mothers of Children with Central Auditory Processing Disorder, as Well as in Mothers of Typically Developing Children, Before and Late in the COVID-19 Pandemic

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to measure, at two time points, the relationship between self-perceived global stress and the personality traits of the mothers of children who have central auditory processing disorder (APD) and compare it with the results from mothers of typically developing (TD) children. The comparisons were made before the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as late in the pandemic.

METHODS

The level of stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), while the Short Big Five Markers (IPIP-BFM-20) were used to assess Big Five personality traits. The study used two independent samples: one evaluated before the COVID-19 pandemic and the other late in the pandemic. Each sample consisted of 108 mothers of children with APD and 79 mothers whose children did not have APD (TD children) as controls.

RESULTS

The average global stress levels were similar in mothers of children with APD and in mothers of TD children, both before and in the late stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the late stage, both sets of mothers scored similarly on all personality dimensions, but significantly, mothers of TD children exhibited lower emotional stability compared to during the pre-pandemic period. In both groups, emotional stability predicted global stress level at both time points; however, during the pandemic, conscientiousness also became a predictor of global stress level but only in the group of mothers of TD children.

CONCLUSIONS

Mothers of APD children might be more resistant to additional stressors. It would be prudent to watch mothers of APD and TD children for signs of needing psychological intervention.

Arabic validation of the parental stress scale (PSS) in a population-based sample of Lebanese parents

BACKGROUND

Parental stress significantly impacts the well-being of families, and necessitates culturally sensitive tools for its assessment. The Parental Stress Scale, widely used in diverse cultural settings, lacks a validated Arabic version suitable for the Lebanese context, where unique sociopolitical and economic factors might influence parental stress differently. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the scale in Arabic among a Lebanese sample.

METHODS

Following the Snowball sampling method, participants (n = 502) were adult Lebanese parents who answered demographic questions and completed the Arabic version of the Parental Stress Scale and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-8.

RESULTS

Confirmatory Factor Analysis showed a two-factor model of the Parental Stress Scale (CFI = 0.956). We found adequate composite reliability for both the 'Parental Stress' (ω = 0.91/α = 0.91) and 'Parental satisfaction' (ω = 0.94/α = 0.94) subscales. Convergent validity and concurrent validity were demonstrated through positive correlations with measures of depression, anxiety and stress. Our translation of the scale was shown to be invariant across sexes, with fathers scoring significantly higher than mothers.

CONCLUSION

Our validated Arabic version of the Parental Stress Scale offers a culturally sensitive instrument for assessing parental stress in Lebanon. This tool enables healthcare providers and researchers to identify stressors affecting Lebanese families, facilitating the development of targeted interventions to support parental mental health.

Associations among screen time, sleep, mental health and cognitive functioning in school-aged children during the COVID-19 pandemic, November 2020 through to August 2022

Objective

To examine children's screen time use and sleep patterns over 2 years of the pandemic and the downstream associations with children's executive functions and behavioural problems, as well as the moderating effects of parental factors.

Method

This longitudinal cohort study examined school-aged children's lifestyle and behavioural changes over 2 years of the pandemic across 6 timepoints (November 2020 to August 2022). Latent growth modeling (LGM) was used to identify changes in screen time and sleep duration and multivariate LGM was used to determine how parental stress, positive parenting, changes in children's screen time and sleep over time were associated with children's executive functions and mental health outcomes at the final time point.

Results

A total of 198 parents (children's mean age = 9.14 years) were recruited and followed up. Non-school screen time was elevated at the initial timepoint (3.6 ± 2.3 h). Positive parenting at the initial timepoint was associated with lower screen time use in children (β = -.19, p < .001; β = -.19, p < .001, in internalizing and externalizing models). Children whose screen time use was constant during the pandemic had shorter sleep durations (β = -.45, p < .05 in internalizing model). Executive function was predicted by sleep duration at the first timepoint (β = -.55, p < .001; β = .73, p < .001, in internalizing and externalizing models) and changes in screen time during the pandemic was associated with both internalizing and externalizing symptoms (β = .58, p < .05; β = .54, p < .05, in internalizing and externalizing models).

Conclusion

Children's screen time decreased slightly but remained significantly higher than Canadian and International guidelines during 2 years of the pandemic. Positive parenting styles can have a significant impact on children's screen time use. Reducing excessive screen time can help improve sleep patterns and, consequently, cognitive, and emotional well-being in children.

Parental Stress and Psychological Distress and Their Association With Spousal Support Among Parents of School-Age Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic in South India: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

CONTEXT

The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to families in the form of social isolation, economic difficulties and inaccessibility of educational and supportive services.

AIMS

To assess the levels of parental stress and psychological distress among parents of school-age children during the COVID-19 pandemic and to analyse its correlation with spousal support.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional, web-based study was conducted among the parents of school-age children in south India. One hundred thirty-two completed responses were obtained. Study tools included Parental Stress Scale, Spouse Support Scale and Kessler's psychological distress scale-6 item version.

RESULTS

The mean parental stress score was 42.39 ± 9.679. Sixty percent of the participants reported moderate to high levels of psychological distress. Parental stress and psychological distress scores were noted to have a significant negative correlation with spousal support scores (r=-.486, p=.000 and r=-.401, p=.000 respectively).

CONCLUSION

Our study findings show that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the psychological well-being of parents of school-age children. Supportive interventions to address parenting difficulties need to be undertaken to prevent long-term adverse mental health outcomes. Lessons learnt from the pandemic are important for clinicians and policymakers to take measures to alleviate parental stress as well as to promote the psychological well-being of parents and children.

Assessment of children suicide attempts frequency in the peripandemic period

Objectives

Our study aimed to evaluate patients after suicide attempts treated at the Department of Trauma Surgery for Children in the peripandemic period, assessment of potential risk factors, and the school's participation as the unit responsible for the prevention of suicidal behavior.

Materials and methods

Retrospective review of the medical database at equal time intervals of 24 months to identify patients treated before and after the COVID-19 was done. Thorough analysis including injury mechanism, medical procedures, history of previous mental disorders or suicidal behavior was performed. Furthermore, results were compared with the Polish police suicide statistics.

Results

Based on our retrospective review we found 4 patients treated in our department before the pandemic and 10 patients treated after COVID-19 outbreak. The group before SARS-Cov-2 era consisted of three girls and one boy with a mean age of 14.97 (12.7-17.6). The group treated in the pandemic crisis consisted of 8 boys and 2 girls, the mean age was 15.49 (10.8-17.2). In the pre-COVID-19 group, 2 out of 4 patients had received psychiatric treatment before, but none had attempted suicide before. In the COVID-19 group, 6 out of 10 patients had previously received psychiatric treatment, moreover 3 of them attempted suicide before. Based on our analysis, the number of individuals who displayed suicidal attempts has raised. Between 2018 and 2021 the largest number of suicides concerned the 13-18 y.o. group, both for the Silesian Voivodeship (H = 9.374; p = 0.0092) and for the whole country (H = 10.203; p = 0.0061).

Conclusion

(1) Results of our study indicate that the pandemic may have caused a wide range of negative mental health consequences for young individuals; (2) Suicide attempts in children are often related with high energy trauma; (3) Teachers and school psychologists, as well as medical health providers, should be aware of rising suicide rates among adolescents.

The impact of lockdown on child adjustment: a propensity score matched analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an inestimable impact worldwide, challenging the daily lives and interactions of children and their families. In 2022, Shanghai implemented a three-month lockdown in response to an acceleration of positive cases during the pandemic period. This restrictive policy provided insight into the impact of the lockdown on children's social adjustment and the role of parent-child conflict during this process. Mothers of preschool-aged children participated in this study and completed the Chinese version of Child-Parent Relationship Scale (CPRS) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Using Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method, two matched groups were formed: pre-lockdown group and post-lockdown group, with a total of 574 preschoolers (N = 297 in each group; Mage = 4.36, SD = 0.86) were recruited. The results showed that the lockdown directly impacted children's emotional symptoms. Additionally, the parent-child conflict mediated relationship between the lockdown and children's adjustment. Specifically, parent-child conflict deteriorated children's emotional symptoms, hyperactivity-attention problems, and prosocial behaviors. These findings highlight the significant impact of the severe lockdown on children's social adjustment and the role of parent-child interactions during this period.

Maternal distress, parenting stress, maladaptive parenting and children's problematic media use in China: evidence from 2022 spring in Shanghai

The COVID-19 lockdown has forced young children to spend more time on media and significantly impacted their mothers' mental health. This study explored how mothers' individual distress influences children's problematic media use during the Shanghai citywide lockdown caused by COVID-19. Data were collected from 1889 Chinese mothers (Mage = 34.69 years, SD = 3.94 years) with preschoolers aged 3-6 years (Mage = 4.38 years, SD = 1.06 years; 49.0% boys) via an online survey. The statistical analyses relied on SPSS Statistics version 26.0 and macro-program PROCESS 3.3. to investigate the associations and mediation analysis among all the study variables. The results indicated a positive association between maternal distress and children's problematic media use, mediated by parenting stress and maladaptive parenting. Specifically, the serial mediation analysis revealed that high levels of maternal distress exacerbate parenting stress, which in turn leads to maladaptive parenting practices. These maladaptive practices subsequently increase problematic media use in preschool children. The findings highlighted that parents need to enhance their ability to manage risk and promote mental health during periods of significant stress and routine disruption to reduce children's problematic media use.

The relation between mental health and career-related stress among prospective graduates in higher education stage during the COVID-19 pandemic: an evidence based on network analysis

Introduction

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted people's routine, bringing uncertainty and stress, leading to mental health issues. This situation is particularly acute among Chinese prospective graduates in higher education stage as they cannot predict the outcomes of their studies, graduation, and career development, and therefore experience career-related stress.

Methods

This study included 4041 prospective graduates in higher education stage (using handy sampling) recruited in March 2020 as participants (M Age = 22.56, SD = 1.865), utilizing a Sparse Gaussian Graphical Model for regularized partial correlation network analysis of depression symptoms (by PHQ-9), anxiety symptoms (by GAD-7), and career-related stress, which aims to explore the role of career-related stress in the symptom networks of depression and anxiety among prospective graduates in their final semester.

Results

The results revealed that fatigue, sad mood, and psychomotor symptoms in depression, as well as uncontrollable worry and trouble relaxing in anxiety, were central symptoms in the network. Additionally, sad mood and guilt belonging to depressive symptoms, and feeling afraid, restlessness, and irritability belonging to anxiety symptoms, served as bridge symptoms connecting symptom communities. Specifically, guilt as a depressive symptom showed a strong association with employment stress in career-related stress. There were no significant differences in network structure and global strength based on participants' gender. However, despite no significant differences in network structure, the global strength of prospective graduates from Wuhan was significantly lower than samples from non-Hubei provinces, possibly indicative of a Typhoon Eye Effect.

Discussion

The findings of this study can inspire psychological professionals in higher education institutions to provide support for mental interventions and therapies for prospective graduates, and addressing career development issues.

Design of Digital Mental Health Platforms for Family Member Cocompletion: Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic placed an additional mental health burden on individuals and families, resulting in widespread service access problems. Digital mental health interventions suggest promise for improved accessibility. Recent reviews have shown emerging evidence for individual use and early evidence for multiusers. However, attrition rates remain high for digital mental health interventions, and additional complexities exist when engaging multiple family members together.

OBJECTIVE

As such, this scoping review aims to detail the reported evidence for digital mental health interventions designed for family use with a focus on the build and design characteristics that promote accessibility and engagement and enable cocompletion by families.

METHODS

A systematic literature search of MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases was conducted for articles published in the English language from January 2002 to March 2024. Eligible records included empirical studies of digital platforms containing some elements designed for cocompletion by related people as well as some components intended to be completed without therapist engagement. Platforms were included in cases in which clinical evidence had been documented.

RESULTS

Of the 9527 papers reviewed, 85 (0.89%) met the eligibility criteria. A total of 24 unique platforms designed for co-use by related parties were identified. Relationships between participants included couples, parent-child dyads, family caregiver-care recipient dyads, and families. Common platform features included the delivery of content via structured interventions with no to minimal tailoring or personalization offered. Some interventions provided live contact with therapists. User engagement indicators and findings varied and included user experience, satisfaction, completion rates, and feasibility. Our findings are more remarkable for what was absent in the literature than what was present. Contrary to expectations, few studies reported any design and build characteristics that enabled coparticipation. No studies reported on platform features for enabling cocompletion or considerations for ensuring individual privacy and safety. None examined platform build or design characteristics as moderators of intervention effect, and none offered a formative evaluation of the platform itself.

CONCLUSIONS

In this early era of digital mental health platform design, this novel review demonstrates a striking absence of information about design elements associated with the successful engagement of multiple related users in any aspect of a therapeutic process. There remains a large gap in the literature detailing and evaluating platform design, highlighting a significant opportunity for future cross-disciplinary research. This review details the incentive for undertaking such research; suggests design considerations when building digital mental health platforms for use by families; and offers recommendations for future development, including platform co-design and formative evaluation.

Child maltreatment during the COVID-19 pandemic: implications for child and adolescent mental health

As societies worldwide addressed the numerous challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, a troubling concern emerged-the possible rise of child maltreatment, which is a pernicious risk factor for child and adolescent mental health difficulties. This narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how the many changes and challenges associated with the pandemic influenced worldwide occurrences of child maltreatment and, subsequently, the mental health of children and adolescents. First, we present the well-established evidence regarding the impact of child maltreatment on the mental health of children and adolescents both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Next, we examine the existing literature on the prevalence of child maltreatment during the pandemic, explanations for conflicting findings, and key mechanisms influencing the prevalence of maltreatment. Using a heuristic model of child maltreatment and its downstream influence on child mental health, we discuss risk and protective factors for maltreatment as well as mechanisms by which maltreatment operates to influence child and adolescent mental health. Finally, based on the accumulated evidence, we provide important recommendations for advancing research on child maltreatment, emphasizing the necessity for routine monitoring of maltreatment exposure at a population level, and discussing the implications for the field of child protection. This comprehensive review aims to contribute to the understanding of the challenges arising from the intersection of the COVID-19 pandemic and child maltreatment, with the goal of informing effective interventions in the domain of child welfare.

Elevated risk for psychiatric outcomes in pediatric patients with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C): A review of neuroinflammatory and psychosocial stressors

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a secondary immune manifestation of COVID-19 involving multiple organ systems in the body, resulting in fever, skin rash, abdominal pain, nausea, shock, and cardiac dysfunction that often lead to hospitalization. Although many of these symptoms resolve following anti-inflammatory treatment, the long-term neurological and psychiatric sequelae of MIS-C are unknown. In this review, we will summarize two domains of the MIS-C disease course, 1) Neuroinflammation in the MIS-C brain and 2) Psychosocial disruptions resulting from stress and hospitalization. In both domains, we present existing clinical findings and hypothesize potential connections to psychiatric outcomes. This is the first review to conceptualize a holistic framework of psychiatric risk in MIS-C patients that includes neuroinflammatory and psychosocial risk factors. As cases of severe COVID-19 and MIS-C subside, it is important for clinicians to monitor outcomes in this vulnerable patient population.

Adolescents' Tsunami Exposure and Mental Health Consequences: Protective Role of Cultural Coping Strategies

There is a knowledge gap regarding the link between disaster exposure and adolescent mental health problems in developing countries. This study examines the case of Sri Lanka to investigate (a) the immediate and long-term mental health impact of the 2004 tsunami disaster on adolescents and (b) the potential moderating effects of unique cultural and family practices that prevail in Sri Lanka. This study used a random sample of 160 adolescents (ages 12-19) and their mothers who were exposed to the tsunami disaster while living in a southern Sri Lankan village and provided prospective data immediately after the disaster (2005) and three years later (2008). A cross-culturally validated instrument assessed adolescent-mother dyads' tsunami exposure, stressful loss, family cultural rituals and familism, and adolescent mental health. Structural equation modeling analysis showed that exposure and perceptions of tsunami-induced stressful experiences were associated with early and later mental health problems in adolescents. In addition, this study found that unique cultural practices and familism moderated the link between adolescent tsunami exposure, stressful experiences, and levels of PTSD and depressive symptoms. The findings of this study could be utilized to develop prevention and intervention programs that are contextually and culturally valid and empirically supported, which would be more effective for trauma-exposed adolescents in developing countries.

Caregiver and parent-child relationship during COVID-19: The mediator role of anxiety and life satisfaction

AIM

This research was conducted to evaluate the mediation effect of anxiety and life satisfaction on the relationship between Care burden and Parent Child Relationship in Turkish parents during the COVID-19 epidemic.

METHODS

The research was carried out with parents (221 women and 219 men) who have children between the ages of 6-18 living in Turkey. Data were collected in June-July 2021 using the demographic data form, "Care Burden Scale," "Pervasive Anxiety Disorder-7 Test," "Satisfaction with Life Scale," and "Parent Child Relationship Scale." Path analysis was used to analyse the relationships. In this study, structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to examine the path analysis.

RESULTS

It was found that the burden of care and anxiety of the parents and the parent-child conflict relationship were positively correlated and negatively correlated with the life satisfaction and parent-child closeness relationship (p < 0.05). Path model analyses revealed that the burden of care had a direct effect on anxiety and life satisfaction, and an indirect effect on the parent-child relationship, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

It shows that parents' perceptions of how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting their mental health have implications for parent and child well-being, with stronger relationships for low-income families. Anxiety and life satisfaction had a mediating effect between care burden and parent-child relationship. Given the demonstrable impact of COVID-19 on the parent-child relationship, this study may guide the planning of coping strategies and programmes focused on mental health.

The dynamic nature of parenting practices: a qualitative enquiry of parenting adolescents during COVID-19

Introduction

Parenting practices are known to be dynamic, evolving in response to various factors such as societal changes, cultural norms, and individual circumstances. Understanding the dynamic nature of parenting is essential for comprehending its influence on children's development. This study aimed to explore the adaptive nature of parenting practices amidst the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, a global event that provided a unique context for examining these dynamics.

Methods

In-depth semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with six heterogeneous couples who were parenting at least one adolescent during the pandemic. Attride-Sterling's thematic network analysis was employed to analyze the interview data.

Results

Five global themes emerged from the data, namely, change in parenting style due to stressors, paternal versus maternal style of parenting, intergenerational transmission of parenting practices, child-centric parenting practices, positive parenting practices and evolving parent-child relationship during COVID-19.

Discussion

The findings highlight the tendency of parents to adapt their parenting styles to meet the evolving needs of their children. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for supporting families during times of crisis. Future research should explore the long-term effects of these changes and effective strategies for promoting positive parent-child relationships.

Examining the Moderating Role of Parental Stress in the Relationship between Parental Beliefs on Corporal Punishment and Its Utilization as a Behavior Correction Strategy among Colombian Parents

Understanding beliefs about corporal punishment is crucial, as evidence suggests that positive beliefs in its effectiveness predict its use. High parental stress, especially in those valuing corporal punishment, increases the potential for child abuse. Factors such as having many children or low education and socioeconomic status contribute to parental tensions, leading to the use of corporal punishment for behavior correction. We posit that the accumulation of such variables results in heightened stress levels. Our focus aimed to determine the moderating role of stress levels among parental beliefs about corporal punishment and its reported use through quantitative research. In our study, 853 Colombian parents of low, middle, and high socioeconomic status, and from four different regions of Colombia, with children aged 0 to 17 participated. They provided information about their beliefs on corporal punishment, using the Beliefs and Punishment Scale. Correlations indicated that older parents with better socioeconomic status were less inclined to believe that strictness improves children. Regressions suggested that increased belief in corporal punishment modifying behavior, along with higher parental stress, increases corporal punishment use. Moderation models highlighted that when more stressors were present, corporal punishment was used due to stress rather than parental beliefs. Ultimately, stress emerged as a crucial factor influencing corporal punishment use among Colombian parents.

From adverse childhood experiences to harsh parenting: Psychological symptoms as a mediator

BACKGROUND

Research evidence has demonstrated a direct link between ACEs and harsh parenting. However, the mechanisms linking paternal ACEs to harsh parenting have remained largely unexplored among Asian populations.

OBJECTIVE

In the current study, we examined the relationships between parental ACEs and harsh parenting and explored the potential mediating effect of psychological symptoms on the relationship between parental ACEs and harsh parenting.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

A total of 6195 Taiwanese parents of children aged 6 to 12 were recruited from 58 primary schools in the Taiwanese cities of Taipei and New Taipei.

METHOD

Using probability-proportional-to-size sampling and a self-report survey, we collected data relating to parental ACEs, psychological symptoms, and child-rearing behaviors. A hierarchical regression analysis was completed to examine the effects of parental ACEs and psychological symptoms on harsh parenting. In addition, we tested the potential mediating effects of psychological symptoms on the relationship between parental ACEs and harsh parenting by employing a simple mediation model (PROCESS) with a bootstrapping procedure.

RESULTS

We found that both parental ACEs and psychological symptoms were significant predictors for mothers' and fathers' adoption of harsh parenting behaviors. Moreover, after adjusting for covariates, we discovered the unique finding that psychological symptoms mediated the relationship between parental ACEs and harsh parenting among Taiwanese parents.

CONCLUSIONS

The study revealed a direct link between parental ACEs and harsh parenting, with psychological symptoms serving as a mediator. Our findings suggest that trauma-recovery programs should promote regular screening and interventions for parents with ACEs.

Short-term and long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on child psychological well-being: a four-wave longitudinal study

As the COVID-19 pandemic further unfolds, it becomes a key theoretical and practical question to identify trajectories of child psychological well-being and to explore risk and resilience factors for developmental adjustment. The current study addressed this research gap by means of an ecological design: A (lockdown)-B (relaxation)-B (relaxation)-A (lockdown). We collected parental reports via online questionnaires over four measurement occasions during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany (non-probabilistic sample): from the first lockdown (T1-spring 2020, N = 1769) to the following period of relaxation (T2-summer 2020, n = 873; T3-fall 2020, n = 729) on to the second lockdown (T4-winter 2020/21, n = 748). Key measures at T1-T4 were child emotional and behavioral problems as well as hyperactivity, child emotional and family-related well-being, parental strain, and parent-child relationship quality. We found evidence for quadratic growth models. While child problem behaviors (b = 0.32, p < 0.001) and emotional well-being (b = - 0.33, p < 0.001) improved after the first lockdown during subsequent periods of relaxation before worsening again in the second lockdown, child family-related well-being steadily decreased over all four measurement points (T1-T2: p < 0.001; T2-T3: p = 0.045; T3-T4: p = 0.030). Importantly, parental stress emerged as a strong risk factor (ps < 0.11) and the parent-child relationship quality constituted a resilience factor (p = 0.049) for child psychological well-being. These findings have major implications for policies aiming to further child health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Effect of Familism Emotions on Post-Traumatic Growth Among the Elderly in China: The Mediating Roles of Taoist Personality and Sense of Community

Purpose

Post-traumatic growth is a significant social issue in the management of active aging in elderly people. This study investigates the influence of familism emotions on post-traumatic growth (PTG) of the elderly, and the mediating role of Taoist personality and sense of community (SOC) therein, to provide a scientific basis for the development of positive aging in the elderly.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in several communities of Hubei Province in China. A total of 338 elderly people were investigated with the Familism Emotion Scale, PTG Scale, Taoist Personality Scale and SOC Scale. SPSS 23.0 was used to derive descriptive statistics and conduct a common method bias test, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple stepwise regression analysis. Mplus 7.3 was used for structural equation modeling to test the significance of parallel mediation effects on the data.

Results

The results show that: (1) Familism emotions, Taoist personality and SOC are positively correlated with PTG; (2) Familism emotions, Taoist personality and SOC can all positively predict PTG in the elderly; (3) Both Taoist personality and SOC partially mediated the link between familism emotions and PTG in the elderly.

Conclusion

In the context of particularly constraining societal events such as COVID-19, it is necessary to pay careful attention to the impact of external environmental influences upon the elderly, such as family and community, and to encourage elderly people to cultivate a more Taoist personality. The formation of a Taoist personality offers a promising new focus for research in elderly healthcare.

A hybrid digital parenting programme to prevent abuse of adolescents in Tanzania: study protocol for a pragmatic cluster-randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Evidence-based parenting programmes have strong evidence in preventing and mitigating violence, but in-person programmes are challenging to deliver at scale. ParentApp is an open-source, offline-first app-based adaptation of the Parenting for Lifelong Health for Parents and Teens programme to promote playful and positive parenting, reduce risks for sexual violence victimisation, and prevent violence against adolescents. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of ParentApp compared to an attention-control group.

METHODS

This study is a two-arm pragmatic cluster-randomised controlled trial to test whether ParentApp reduces adolescent physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual violence risks and victimisation at 1 month and 12 months post-intervention. Caregivers of adolescents aged 10-17 years and their adolescent children (N = 2400 caregiver-adolescent dyads) will be recruited in urban and peri-urban communities in the Mwanza region of Tanzania. A total of 80 study clusters will be stratified and randomised (1:1) to the intervention group, who will receive ParentApp with support through a WhatsApp group, or to an attention-control group, who will receive a water, sanitation, and hygiene app. Quantitative data will be collected through outcomes questionnaires with caregivers and adolescents, administered at baseline, 4 months post-baseline, and 16 months post-baseline, as well as through routine implementation data and ParentApp engagement data. Qualitative data will be collected through individual interviews and focus groups with caregivers, adolescents, and implementing partner staff.

DISCUSSION

App-based interventions have the potential to expand access to evidence-based parenting support, but currently lack rigorous evidence in low- and middle-income countries. This is the first known randomised control trial of a hybrid digital parenting programme to prevent the abuse of adolescents in low- and middle-income settings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The trial was registered on the Open Science Framework on 14 March 2023, registration: OSF.IO/T9FXZ .

Examining resilience among child protection professionals during COVID-19: A global comparison across 57 countries

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic led to numerous challenges for child protection professionals (CPPs). However, limited research has investigated the interwoven concepts of coping, resilience, and mental distress among CPPs during COVID-19 on a global scale.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore CPPs' practice, resilience, and mental distress during COVID-19, the relationship between their resilience and mental distress, the global stability of the Multi-System Model of Resilience (MSMR), and how CPPs' resilience varied according to the Human Development Index (HDI).

METHODS

Data were collected from 420 CPPs in 57 countries across five continents between July and September 2021. Participants completed an online questionnaire on demographics, resilience, mental distress, coping, and perceptions of child protection during the pandemic in their native languages. The analyses compared the countries grouped according to HDI using means comparisons, correlations, and multiple linear regressions. A two-path analysis was also performed to identify variables associated with behavioral resilience engagement and mental distress.

RESULTS

The findings indicated that CPPs' perceptions of COVID-19's impact on child maltreatment varied in correlation with their country's HDI. There were also significant HDI-based differences regarding the perceived opportunity to engage in resilient behavior and its helpfulness. Years of professional experience, internal resilience, and external resilience were shown to be significant predictors of mental distress among CPPs during the pandemic, and resilience mediated how years of experience predicted mental distress.

CONCLUSIONS

This study emphasized the importance of experience and internal resilience for CPPs' psychological well-being. It also provides empirical evidence to support the MSMR theory on a global scale. Additionally, it demonstrates how the perceived changes in child maltreatment during COVID-19 may be associated with regional HDI. Lastly, the opportunities CPPs had to engage in resilient behavior and how much this helped them was associated with regional HDI, but not in the way originally predicted. Study results also hold implications for how practice and policy may be altered to help CPPs cope better during times of crisis and generally.

A Feasibility Study of the SAFE Pilot Program: A University-School Board Partnership in Ontario

The Support and Aid to Families Electronically (SAFE) pilot program was developed through a community-university partnership to support parents of elementary students in Ontario, while providing stable practicums for social work students in the midst of COVID-19 restrictions. Purpose: The aim of the current study was to examine the feasibility of the SAFE pilot program as a mental health support to families by examining three feasibility objectives: demand, acceptably, and implementation. Method: Qualitative data from interviews, focus groups, and qualitative surveys involving service users, social work students, referring school board and university professionals (n = 37) were examined. Results: Demand for SAFE extended beyond the pandemic. A high-level of acceptance of SAFE was identified. Areas of success and considerations for implementation are outlined. Discussion: This study provides practice guidance on implementing this unique program, with potential to address gaps in service provision and the ongoing crisis in field education.

What our children lost and gained at the time of school closure during the Covid-19 pandemic: a study on psychological distress, behavioural concerns and protective factors of resilience among preschool children in Kerala, India

BACKGROUND

The pandemic has put at risk the social and emotional development of children on account of the paucity of arenas for social interaction. This study from Kerala, India was conducted to assess the resilience factors, behavioural concerns, psychological distress symptoms among the children aged 3 to 5 years. We also tried to look into the lost opportunities that could have aided the social and emotional development of children like peer interaction, child care hours.

METHODS

The cross-sectional study was conducted among the children aged 3 to 5 years. A total of 535 children attending the immunisation clinics were enrolled by consecutive sampling. Devereux Early Childhood Assessment P2 (DECA P2) questionnaire was used to assess the levels of resilient factors and behavioural concerns in the study population.

RESULTS

We observed a high proportion of children in the area of need category of protective factors under DECA P2. The proportion of children falling under area of concern was 64.5%, 49%, 68.4% for attachment/relationship, self-regulation, and initiative respectively. 24.9% study subjects have a behavioural concern score that puts them in the area of need category. The logistic regression model we created identified 'Male Gender,' 'Mothers could spend only less time for child care' and 'electronic devices used as pacifier' as significant predictors for belonging to Area of need Behavioural Concerns T score category.

CONCLUSION

A large proportion of children aged between 3 to 5 years with reported behavioural concerns and lack of protective factors for socioemotional development. This can be attributed partly to the ongoing pandemic and its associated restrictions. The increased child care hours invested by parents or grandparents could have sized down the full impact that the pandemic would have had on the socio emotional development of the child. Increased time spent using electronic devices coupled with dwindled opportunities for interaction with peers have been notable challenges.

How food insecurity affects children's behavior problems in early childhood: The nutrition and family stress pathways

This study examines how household food insecurity shapes young children's behavior problems in Singapore. The analysis is based on two waves of data collected before and during COVID-19 from a nationally representative sample of 2,601 children in the Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study (SG-LEADS, Mage = 4.5 at wave 1, Mage = 6 at wave 2). Results based on propensity score matching, fixed effects analysis and lagged-variable models show a positive association between household food insecurity and children's behavior problems both concurrently and over a two-year period. Two mediating pathways of this association are identified-children's dietary intake and family stress. Children in food-insecure households tend to consume fewer vegetables and more sugar-sweetened beverages and carbohydrates, which is associated with elevated behavior problems. Parents in food-insecure households exhibit greater emotional distress, diminished parental warmth, and increased punitive parenting practices, also contributing to their children's behavior problems. The family stress pathway has a stronger explanatory power than the nutrition pathway on children's behavior problems. This study reveals that food insecurity is a risk factor for children's behavior problems in early childhood which can lead to later developmental vulnerabilities for children in financially deprived families.

COVID-19 and Caregiver Risk Factors for Child Maltreatment: The Pandemic in Review

The COVID-19 pandemic has fostered an environment for increased risk of child maltreatment (CM) as families experience increased psychosocial and financial burdens and spend unprecedented amounts of time together in the home. This narrative review aimed to summarize empirical findings on existing or new pandemic-related risk factors among caregivers. A combination of search terms related to CM and COVID-19 were used to identify articles published within five databases between February 2020 and July 2022. Literature searches produced 113 articles, of which 26 published across 12 countries met inclusion criteria. Four previously well-established risk factors for CM perpetration continued to persist during the pandemic, including stress, parental mental health, financial concerns, and parental substance use. Of note, inconsistent definitions and measures were used to capture these risk factors. Several additional emerging and understudied risk factors were also identified among limited articles, such as food insecurity and parental education. Findings emphasize the ongoing need for evidence-based interventions to address CM risk during the pandemic, including parent training programs. However, consolidated measures and consistent conceptualization of risk factors are needed to advance the study of CM. Going forward, practitioners and researchers should (a) strengthen the identification process for families at greatest risk for CM, and particularly those vulnerable to pandemic-related stressors; and (b) augment delivery of CM prevention strategies and evidence-based programs to fit the pandemic context.

Mediators and moderators of the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on parent-child conflict in children in tertiary mental health care

This study focused on children treated for mental health problems during the pandemic. The present study examined how parent's difficulties in managing COVID-19 restrictions increased children's behavioral problems (internalizing and externalizing) and parent-child conflict through parental mental health and parental stress. Family functioning, particularly problem-solving ability, was tested as a resilience factor. were collected using online surveys from 337 parents with a child between the ages of 4 and 18 years who was receiving active outpatient mental health treatment at a pediatric tertiary care center. Parents who reported a greater impact of COVID-19 reported more behavioral difficulties in their children. This relationship was significantly mediated by parental mental health (general stress, anxiety, and depression) and parental stress. Similar indirect pathways were observed when examining internalizing and externalizing problems in children, where the most significant pathway had parental stress as the sole mediator. Furthermore, the effect of COVID-19 impact on parent-child conflict through parental stress was significantly moderated by problem-solving skills within the family. Parenting stress mediates the impact of COVID-19 on parent-child conflict. Interventions improving within family problem solving-skills may decrease the effect of parental stress on parent-child conflict.

The Child-Parent Relationship During the COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia

Background The COVID-19 pandemic psychologically affected children and their caregivers. On the other side, parents were adapting to new daily routines for work, education, and self-care in response to the current situation. Therefore, assessing the child-parent relationship during the quarantine period is a crucial issue. Objective This study aimed to measure the impact of quarantine during the COVID-19 period on the relationship between children and their parents in the western region of Saudi Arabia, mainly in Jeddah and other nearby cities. Methods A cross-sectional survey study was conducted from April to December 2020 in the western region of Saudi Arabia, primarily Jeddah and neighboring cities, during the COVID-19 quarantine and shortly after it was stopped. A validated survey (Child-Parent Relationship Scale (CPRS)) comprising socio-demographic characteristics, conflict, and closeness of the child-parent relationship was distributed to the respondents after being translated from English to Arabic. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, IBM Corp., Version 26.0, Armonk, NY). P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results The study included 361 parents with a mean (SD) age of 37.30 (7.77) years old. Most parents were mothers (77.9%, N=279), married (91.3%, N=326), lived with their children (98.3%, N=354), and had three or a lesser number of children (80%, N=287). The average time spent with children was significantly higher after the quarantine (12.96 hours) compared to before the quarantine (8 hours) (p<0.001). The number of hours spent with children before the quarantine was significantly higher for mothers than fathers (8.44 vs. 6.01 hours, respectively, p<0.001). There was a significant association between the mean difference in conflict scores before and after the quarantine and the age of parents (p=0.002), the gender of parents (p<0.001), and marital status (p=0.026). There was a significant correlation between mean differences in closeness scores before and after the quarantine and the gender of parents (p=0.038). Conclusion Our findings highlight the complex and varied effects of the pandemic on parent-child relationships. The results emphasize the need for support and interventions to address increased conflict and promote positive relationships between parents and children during challenging times.

Childhood adversity during the post-apartheid transition and COVID-19 stress independently predict adult PTSD risk in urban South Africa: A biocultural analysis of the stress sensitization hypothesis

OBJECTIVES

The COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa introduced new societal adversities and mental health threats in a country where one in three individuals are expected to develop a psychiatric condition sometime in their life. Scientists have suggested that psychosocial stress and trauma during childhood may increase one's vulnerability to the mental health consequences of future stressors-a process known as stress sensitization. This prospective analysis assessed whether childhood adversity experienced among South African children across the first 18 years of life, coinciding with the post-apartheid transition, exacerbates the mental health impacts of psychosocial stress experienced during the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic (ca. 2020-2021).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data came from 88 adults who participated in a follow-up study of a longitudinal birth cohort study in Soweto, South Africa. Childhood adversity and COVID-19 psychosocial stress were assessed as primary predictors of adult PTSD risk, and an interaction term between childhood adversity and COVID-19 stress was calculated to evaluate the potential effect of stress sensitization.

RESULTS

Fifty-six percent of adults exhibited moderate-to-severe PTSD symptoms. Greater childhood adversity and higher COVID-19 psychosocial stress independently predicted worse post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in adults. Adults who reported greater childhood adversity exhibited non-significantly worse PTSD symptoms from COVID-19 psychosocial stress.

DISCUSSION

These results highlight the deleterious mental health effects of both childhood trauma and COVID-19 psychosocial stress in our sample and emphasize the need for greater and more accessible mental health support as the pandemic progresses in South Africa.

Learning from adversity: What the COVID-19 pandemic can teach us about family resiliency

The present study aimed to characterize the immediate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on families with preschool age children and to identify pre-pandemic factors that explained unique family experiences. We leveraged an ongoing longitudinal study of relatively well-resourced community families who had reported on family functioning prior to the pandemic and completed surveys 6 months after pandemic onset. Both parents of dual parenting households endorsed significant hardships as a direct result of the pandemic (e.g., disrupted family routines, challenges at work); however, families also reported aspects of flourishing (i.e., experiencing positive outcomes in response to adversity) such as spending more time together as a family. Families were prone to greater hardships and fewer opportunities for growth to the extent that parents were lower in psychological resources (i.e., greater stress and internalizing symptoms, poor well-being) and were not on the same page as a couple (i.e., interparental discord, low quality coparenting) prior to pandemic onset. Finally, greater pandemic hardships predicted poorer parental mental health, greater family dysfunction, and elevated child psychopathology, controlling for pre-pandemic levels. Parents who reported more family flourishing from the pandemic had a stronger interparental relationship. Results are intended to inform theories of family stress and family interventions that can be tailored to promote resiliency (i.e., adaptation to challenging life events) and prevent dysfunction when families face rapid change and adjustment and high degrees of uncertainty and stress.

Changes in coercive parenting and child externalizing behavior across COVID-19 and the moderating role of parent-child attachment relationship quality

Research indicates increases in coercive parenting towards children and increases in child externalizing behavior during COVID-19 as compared to the pre-pandemic period. In this preregistered study, we extended previous knowledge by investigating to what extent, and under what conditions, changes in coercive parenting and child externalizing behavior are interrelated. Ninety-five mothers and fathers of children (of age 3 prior to the pandemic) reported on coercive parenting and child externalizing behavior before and during the pandemic, and trained assistants observed the quality of mother-child and father-child attachment relationship prior to the pandemic. We employed latent change score modeling to test the extent to which changes in maternal and paternal coercive parenting and changes in child externalizing behavior across the pre-pandemic period and the onset of the first COVID-19 lockdown are interrelated. Moreover, we tested whether these linkages are moderated by changes in the other parent's coercive parenting and the quality of parent-child attachment relationship. Specifically, we tested the moderation by mother-child (father-child) attachment relationship quality in the relation between changes in mothers' (fathers') coercive parenting and changes in child externalizing behavior. We found that changes in mothers', but not fathers' coercive parenting were positively associated with changes in child externalizing behavior. We found no moderation by changes in the other parent's parenting or by parent-child attachment relationship quality. Our findings provide support for the transactional processes underlying mothers' and children's behavior in the context of non-normative stressful conditions. We recommend incorporating evidence-based (parenting) support for mothers, fathers, and young children in prevention strategies and recovery tools employed during and after future lockdowns and non-normative stressful events.

Helicopter parenting through the lens of reddit: A text mining study

The study aimed to understand Reddit users' experience with helicopter parenting through first-hand accounts. Text mining and natural language processing techniques were employed to extract data from the subreddit r/helicopterparents. A total of 713 original posts were processed from unstructured texts to tidy formats. Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), a popular topic modeling method, was used to discover hidden themes within the corpus. The data revealed common environmental contexts of helicopter parenting (i.e., school, college, work, and home) and its implication on college decisions, privacy, and social relationships. These collectively suggested the importance of autonomy-supportive parenting and mindfulness interventions as viable solutions to the problems posed by helicopter parenting. In addition, findings lent support to past research that has identified more maternal than paternal models of helicopter parenting. Further research on the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on helicopter parenting is warranted.

Birth and early parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in the Austrian and German population

BACKGROUND

During the COVID-19 pandemic, new mothers and their babies represent a particularly vulnerable group. This study investigates the effects of the pandemic on the pregnancy and childbirth experience, as well as on postnatal stress and depression levels.

METHODS

An online survey was completed by 1964 Austrian and German mothers who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey included the Pregnancy Distress Questionnaire (PDQ), the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Score (EPDS), the Perceived Stress Score (PSS), and additional pregnancy- and pandemic-related questions. We conducted multilinear regression models in order to investigate which factors predict childbirth experience, stress and depression scores.

FINDINGS

There was a high prevalence of depression symptoms (42%), though the mean EPDS score was 8·71 (SD = 5·70), below the cut-off for depression of 10. The prevalence of high stress scores was 9%, and the mean PSS score was 17·7 (SD = 6·64), which indicates moderate perceived stress. The pandemic reduced the time spent with grandparents, as well as the help received by the mother from relatives and friends. Not receiving help was associated with higher stress and depression scores. In the multilinear regression models, the most important predictor for a negative childbirth experience was a high-risk pregnancy, while the strongest predictors for high stress and depression levels were low social support and negatively perceived pandemic repercussions on financial, social or health aspects of family life.

INTERPRETATION

The results suggest that the pandemic had an impact on maternal mental health. While the perceived consequences due to the pandemic negatively affected the postnatal depression and stress levels, perceived social support acted as a protective factor.