Parentification and Language Brokering: An Exploratory Study of the Similarities and Differences in Their Relations to Continuous and Dichotomous Mental Health Outcomes

Abstract

Researchers have argued parentification and language brokering experienced in childhood are similar in nature and may have the same deleterious effects on mental health outcomes in adulthood, although there is a dearth of empirical research examining this contention. To address this gap in the literature, parentification was analyzed multidimensionally with subscales for parent-focused parentification, sibling-focused parentification, instrumental parentification, emotional parentification, and perceived unfairness in a nonclinical sample of adults (N = 1,796; Mage = 21.23, SD = 5.25). Overall, we found all parentification scores—with the exception of sibling-focused parentification—to be predictive of mental health outcomes (i.e., depressive, anxiety, and somatic symptoms as well as overall psychological distress). Language brokering showed similar results but to a lesser degree, suggesting parentification had a stronger association with mental health. We also found significant gender differences pointing toward higher levels of parentification and language brokering in male participants. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

“Children Are Not Children Anymore; They Are a Lost Generation”: Adverse Physical and Mental Health Consequences on Syrian Refugee Children

“…In Jordan, they undertook the role of the main providers of their families, dropped out of schools, and became functioning adults who secured the survival of their families. Studies on parentification claim that children with parental roles in their families might suffer from physical and mental health issues [ 48 , 49 ]. Studies on parentification of refugee children suggest that children might suffer from depressive, anxious, and somatic symptoms, as well as overall psychological distress [ 48 , 50 ].…”

“…Studies on parentification claim that children with parental roles in their families might suffer from physical and mental health issues [ 48 , 49 ]. Studies on parentification of refugee children suggest that children might suffer from depressive, anxious, and somatic symptoms, as well as overall psychological distress [ 48 , 50 ]. In our study, children’s physical health deteriorated due to child labor and the long working hours and harsh work conditions, and degraded their mental health, as demonstrated by depressive symptoms of keeping silent about their daily challenges, enduring abuse by employers, and in trying to protect their families with constant worrying.…”

Parentification in Polish Adolescents: a Prevalence Study

“…Third, parentification may be viewed in light of its consequences. A situation which goes beyond the child's capabilities (e.g., emotional and physical capacities) and exhausts resources that foretell numerous negative consequences such as anxiety, depression, personality disorders, and eating disorders (Arellano et al, 2018;Burton et al, 2018;Hooper et al, 2011), use of psychoactive substances (Chase et al, 1998;Dragan & Hardt, 2016), difficulties in relationships (Shaffer & Madden, 2016), poor academic performance (Burton, 2007;Chase et al, 1998;Siskowski, 2006), and poor parenting skills as an adult (Nuttall et al, 2019). In some circumstances, however, parentification may be beneficial.…”

The Simon effect in bilingual language brokers: A role for emotion and proficiency

“…Others find that brokering may be burdensome and creates strained parent–child relationships due to increased adult-like responsibilities (e.g. helping pay bills, household decision-making, and filling out employment forms; Arellano et al, 2018; Kam et al, 2017; Titzmann, 2012;Wu & Kim, 2009). Yet, brokering experiences are affected by parent feedback, age at the time of brokering, and context of brokering experiences (Antonini, 2016; López et al, 2019; Orellana & Phoenix, 2017; Shen et al, 2017), which evoke different emotional responses.…”