Parenting stress during infancy is a risk factor for mental health problems in 3-year-old children
Abstract Background Although research on the relationship between parent and child mental health is growing, the impact of early parenting stress on preschool-aged children’s mental health remains unclear. The objective was to evaluate the association between parenting stress during infancy and ment...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-020-09861-5 |
| _version_ | 1828779161101008896 |
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| author | Nayantara Hattangadi Katherine T. Cost Catherine S. Birken Cornelia M. Borkhoff Jonathon L. Maguire Peter Szatmari Alice Charach |
| author_facet | Nayantara Hattangadi Katherine T. Cost Catherine S. Birken Cornelia M. Borkhoff Jonathon L. Maguire Peter Szatmari Alice Charach |
| author_sort | Nayantara Hattangadi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Although research on the relationship between parent and child mental health is growing, the impact of early parenting stress on preschool-aged children’s mental health remains unclear. The objective was to evaluate the association between parenting stress during infancy and mental health problems in 3-year-old children. Methods A prospective cohort study of healthy preschool-aged children recruited from 9 primary care practices in Toronto, Canada was conducted through the TARGet Kids! primary care practice-based research network. Parenting stress was measured when children were between 0 to 16 months of age, using the Parent Stress Index Short Form, PSI-SF. Parent-reported child mental health problems were measured at 36 to 47 months using the preschool Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, total difficulties score (TDS). Hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to investigate the association between standardized PSI-SF and TDS, adjusted for child age, sex, temperament, sleep duration and household income. To strengthen clinical interpretation, analysis was repeated using adjusted multivariable logistic regression (TDS dichotomized at top 20%). Results A total of 148 children (mean ± SD age, 37.2 ± 1.7 months, 49% male) were included in the analysis. Parenting stress during infancy (11.4 ± 3.1 months of age) was significantly associated with mental health problems in 3-year-old children (β = 0.35; 95% CI = 0.20–0.49, p < 0.001). Higher parenting stress was also associated with increased odds of higher TDS (OR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.69–2.83, p < 0.01). Conclusion Healthy preschool-aged children with parents reporting parenting stress during infancy had a 2 times higher odds of mental health problems at 3 years. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T16:56:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fcb5b275baa34386938c52c903f3e76d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T16:56:28Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-fcb5b275baa34386938c52c903f3e76d2022-12-22T00:57:57ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582020-11-012011710.1186/s12889-020-09861-5Parenting stress during infancy is a risk factor for mental health problems in 3-year-old childrenNayantara Hattangadi0Katherine T. Cost1Catherine S. Birken2Cornelia M. Borkhoff3Jonathon L. Maguire4Peter Szatmari5Alice Charach6Department of Psychiatry, Hospital for Sick ChildrenDepartment of Psychiatry, Hospital for Sick ChildrenDivision of Pediatric Medicine and the Paediatric Outcomes Research Team (PORT), Hospital for Sick ChildrenDivision of Pediatric Medicine and the Paediatric Outcomes Research Team (PORT), Hospital for Sick ChildrenDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of TorontoDepartment of Psychiatry, Hospital for Sick ChildrenDepartment of Psychiatry, Hospital for Sick ChildrenAbstract Background Although research on the relationship between parent and child mental health is growing, the impact of early parenting stress on preschool-aged children’s mental health remains unclear. The objective was to evaluate the association between parenting stress during infancy and mental health problems in 3-year-old children. Methods A prospective cohort study of healthy preschool-aged children recruited from 9 primary care practices in Toronto, Canada was conducted through the TARGet Kids! primary care practice-based research network. Parenting stress was measured when children were between 0 to 16 months of age, using the Parent Stress Index Short Form, PSI-SF. Parent-reported child mental health problems were measured at 36 to 47 months using the preschool Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, total difficulties score (TDS). Hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to investigate the association between standardized PSI-SF and TDS, adjusted for child age, sex, temperament, sleep duration and household income. To strengthen clinical interpretation, analysis was repeated using adjusted multivariable logistic regression (TDS dichotomized at top 20%). Results A total of 148 children (mean ± SD age, 37.2 ± 1.7 months, 49% male) were included in the analysis. Parenting stress during infancy (11.4 ± 3.1 months of age) was significantly associated with mental health problems in 3-year-old children (β = 0.35; 95% CI = 0.20–0.49, p < 0.001). Higher parenting stress was also associated with increased odds of higher TDS (OR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.69–2.83, p < 0.01). Conclusion Healthy preschool-aged children with parents reporting parenting stress during infancy had a 2 times higher odds of mental health problems at 3 years.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-020-09861-5Parenting stressChild mental healthProspective cohortMental healthParent-child relationship |
| spellingShingle | Nayantara Hattangadi Katherine T. Cost Catherine S. Birken Cornelia M. Borkhoff Jonathon L. Maguire Peter Szatmari Alice Charach Parenting stress during infancy is a risk factor for mental health problems in 3-year-old children BMC Public Health Parenting stress Child mental health Prospective cohort Mental health Parent-child relationship |
| title | Parenting stress during infancy is a risk factor for mental health problems in 3-year-old children |
| title_full | Parenting stress during infancy is a risk factor for mental health problems in 3-year-old children |
| title_fullStr | Parenting stress during infancy is a risk factor for mental health problems in 3-year-old children |
| title_full_unstemmed | Parenting stress during infancy is a risk factor for mental health problems in 3-year-old children |
| title_short | Parenting stress during infancy is a risk factor for mental health problems in 3-year-old children |
| title_sort | parenting stress during infancy is a risk factor for mental health problems in 3 year old children |
| topic | Parenting stress Child mental health Prospective cohort Mental health Parent-child relationship |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-020-09861-5 |
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