The Impact of Parent Empowerment in Children’s Mental Health Services on Parenting Stress

Abstract

Emotional and behavioral (EB) problems in children are associated with increased perceptions of strain in parenting. Among children receiving services, parenting stress has been linked to initiating services for their children, and may strain the relationship between parent and child. In contrast, parental engagement and empowerment in services is an important quality indicator for positive treatment outcomes. However, no known studies have examined the association between parent empowerment in their child's services and their perceptions of stress related to parenting a child with significant mental health needs. Further, no studies have explored whether empowerment moderates the relationship between the child's symptoms and parental perceptions of stress. The current study examined the impact of child EB problems and parent empowerment on parenting stress. Among a sample of 525 parents of children receiving school-based services for disruptive behavior disorders, child EB problems significantly predicted parenting stress. Parent empowerment also correlated with lower parenting stress, as hypothesized. Although parent empowerment was not found to moderate the relationship between child symptomatology and parenting stress, the relationship between parent empowerment and parenting stress differed based on child gender and age. Parent empowerment was associated with lower parenting stress more for parents of females and younger children than for parents of males and older children.

Preschoolers’ genetic, physiological, and behavioral sensitivity factors moderate links between parenting stress and child internalizing, externalizing, and sleep problems

“…1.1 | Genetic, physiological, and behavioral sensitivity to parenting stress Parenting stress arises from pressures to juggle parenting tasks with employment and other obligations (Roxburgh, 2012), as well as from variations in child and parent characteristics. For instance, parenting stress is exacerbated when caring for a child with a developmental disability or emotional or behavioral problems (Bode et al, 2016;Merwin, Smith, & Dougherty, 2015;Woodman et al, 2015). Regardless of the sources, parenting stress likely relates to poor outcomes for children via decrements in effective parenting practices (e.g., Deater-Deckard, 1998; Morgan, Robinson, & Aldridge, 2002).…”

Latina/o parent activation in children’s mental health treatment: The role of demographic and psychological factors.

“…A parent's sense of self-efficacy and competence in managing their child's mental health care will likely translate to more engaged interactions with mental health providers as activated parents will ask questions, provide feedback, and participate in therapeutic activities (Karver, Handelsman, Fields, & Bickman, 2005). Activated parents can be key to a successful mental health intervention (Bode et al, 2016). For example, one study in a primarily non-Latina/o White sample found that, for externalizing problems, family empowerment, a construct akin to activation, was more strongly related to children's mental health outcomes than hours of mental health services received (Taub, Tighe, & Burchard, 2001).…”

“…Parents may feel less capable of knowing how to help their child obtain the help that they need and less optimistic about being able to maintain behavioral changes in the home, both of which are factors that are central to being an activated parent. Parenting stress is indeed associated with lower levels of perceived efficacy and comfort navigating health care systems (Bode et al, 2016).…”

The relationship between ADHD and emotion regulation and its effect on parenting stress.

“…As a result of the child not receiving treatment, the child could fall further behind academically, behaviorally, and socially. Also, while parental involvement in treatment is necessary for achieving positive mental health outcomes for the child, the process of encouraging parents to attend and actively participate in services for their children may present additional strains for the caregiver (Bode, George, Weist, Stephan, Lever, Youngstrom, 2016).…”