Associations between family characteristics and parental empowerment in the family, family service situations and the family service system

Abstract

Summary Background Parental empowerment signifies parents' sense of confidence in managing their children, interacting with services that their children use and improving child care services. High empowerment is associated with parents' resilience to demands and their confidence to make decisions and take actions that positively affect their families. Most families with children access various healthcare and education services. Professionals working in these services are therefore ideally placed to reinforce parental empowerment. However, little is known about the characteristics associated with parental empowerment within a generic sample of parents or in the context of basic child care services. Aim The aim of this study was to assess how family characteristics are associated with maternal and paternal empowerment in the family, in service situations and in the service system. Method Parental empowerment was measured among 955 parents (mothers = 571; fathers = 384) of children aged 0–9 years using the Generic Family Empowerment Scale. Family characteristics were assessed through questions on children, parents and the life situation. Associations between empowerment and family characteristics were evaluated using one‐way analysis of variance and t‐test. Parental empowerment was predicted by multiple linear regression analysis. Results Parents' concerns related to their parenting, such as whether they possessed sufficient skills as a parent or losing their temper with children, as well as experiences of stress in everyday life, were negatively associated with all dimensions of maternal and paternal empowerment. Both determinants were more common and more significant in empowerment than child‐related problems. Conclusion Promoting parental self‐confidence and providing appropriate emotional and concrete support for everyday functioning may reinforce parental empowerment, thereby enhancing families' well‐being and coping, as well as improving their access to required services and timely support. Finally, it may facilitate the provision of better services to all families.

Strategies for parenting by mothers and fathers with a mental illness

“…Promoting parental self‐confidence and providing appropriate emotional and concrete support for everyday functioning may reinforce parental empowerment, thereby enhancing families' well‐being and coping, as well as improving their access to required services (Vuorenmaa et al . ). In our study we found evidence of a need for this.…”

Interventions of health education in mothers of children with cerebral palsy

“…Functional performance of children with cerebral palsy is directly influenced by the therapeutic guidelines offered to caregivers 2 . Health education thus becomes a vital component of early intervention; based on a familycentered approach or practice, providing mechanisms and strategies for family empowerment, intensity and continuity of care, promoting better family adaptation to children with disabilities, lower levels of stress, anxiety and family frustration 3 ; In addition to providing children with many and better opportunities for active practice within their daily routines 4 . It is understood today that the health team must be able to understand the experiences and guide the parents and/or caregivers of children with disabilities; to listen to them and to recognize them as part of a joint strategy of coping and comprehensive rehabilitation of these children 5 .…”

Produção de sentidos parentais no cuidado de crianças com microcefalia por vírus zika

“…Promover autoconfiança e proporcionar apoio psicológico adequado para um melhor desempenho do dia a dia familiar pode intensificar o empoderamento dos pais, propiciando bem-estar, o enfrentamento saudável da condição de vida, melhora no acesso e no apoio aos serviços necessários e facilidade na prestação de melhores serviços para as famílias (38) . No que se refere às abordagens centradas na família, o empoderamento parental é essencial, principalmente oferecendo condições necessárias para que os pais sejam capazes de se autoavaliar no que diz respeito à gestão de seus filhos, estando diretamente relacionado aos recursos internos e à capacidade de apropriação da vida (39) .…”

“…A escassez de medidas específicas, que identifiquem adequadamente as necessidades dos pais de crianças nessa condição, é notória (48) . Dessa forma, os profissionais de saúde que atendem famílias podem e devem reforçar os recursos parentais, apoiando o envolvimento deles na tomada de decisões relativas à sua criança e vida familiar, contribuindo assim significativamente para a consolidação do bem-estar de todos os envolvidos (38) . Com base nas descobertas do atual estudo, corrobora-se que os profissionais de saúde podem e devem subsidiar a capacitação parental de forma permanente e continuada, reforçando o empoderamento dos pais e familiares de crianças com microcefalia por ZIKV com de uma abordagem contínua através de visitas domiciliares e do envolvimento dos pais em cada fase do tratamento dos filhos (41) .…”