Parents raising children with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience high levels of parenting stress, especially when ADHD is accompanied by comorbid Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ADHD/ODD). Children with ADHD experience difficulties with their executive functions in such areas as inhibition control, working memory, and emotional regulation. Despite evidence linking ADHD with parenting stress, and ADHD with executive function difficulties (EFDs), there is little research exploring whether EFDs within an ADHD population are associated with parenting stress. This dissertation’s main objective is to determine whether parent-reported and teacher-reported childhood EFDs are associated with elevated levels of parenting stress. A secondary data analysis was completed on a cross-section of parent and teacher completed psychiatric assessment measures for children (n=243) diagnosed with ADHD. Measures included the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, the Conners’ Parent Rating Scale and the Parenting Stress Index, Long Form. A number of important findings were produced; key of which was the finding that a strong association exists between parent-reported EFDs and Child Domain parenting stress. Consistent with prior ADHD research, difficulties with emotional control and inhibition were found to be potent predictors of Child Domain parenting stress. To a lesser degree, children’s difficulties with initiation and self-monitoring were associated with Child Domain parenting stress, suggesting that daily hassles pose challenges for parents, especially when the child attends a new school. Also important was the finding that parent-reported oppositionality partially mediated the relationship between EFDs with emotional control, inhibition and shift, and Child Domain parenting stress. Despite teachers’ reports that children displayed more severe behaviours than were reported by parents, teacher-reported EFDs were not significantly associated with Child Domain parenting stress, with a few exceptions. Although not a well-explored concept within the literature on ADHD and parenting stress, parental acceptance of the child emerged as source of Child Domain parenting stress and a potential focus for assessment and treatment. Findings from the current study suggest that early identification and intervention with emotional control difficulties and ODD are vital due to their strong association with clinically significant levels of Child Domain parenting stress.

Parents raising children with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience high levels of parenting stress, especially when ADHD is accompanied by comorbid Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ADHD/ODD). Children with ADHD experience difficulties with their executive functions in such areas as inhibition control, working memory, and emotional regulation. Despite evidence linking ADHD with parenting stress, and ADHD with executive function difficulties (EFDs), there is little research exploring whether EFDs within an ADHD population are associated with parenting stress. This dissertation’s main objective is to determine whether parent-reported and teacher-reported childhood EFDs are associated with elevated levels of parenting stress. A secondary data analysis was completed on a cross-section of parent and teacher completed psychiatric assessment measures for children (n=243) diagnosed with ADHD. Measures included the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, the Conners’ Parent Rating Scale and the Parenting Stress Index, Long Form. A number of important findings were produced; key of which was the finding that a strong association exists between parent-reported EFDs and Child Domain parenting stress. Consistent with prior ADHD research, difficulties with emotional control and inhibition were found to be potent predictors of Child Domain parenting stress. To a lesser degree, children’s difficulties with initiation and self-monitoring were associated with Child Domain parenting stress, suggesting that daily hassles pose challenges for parents, especially when the child attends a new school. Also important was the finding that parent-reported oppositionality partially mediated the relationship between EFDs with emotional control, inhibition and shift, and Child Domain parenting stress. Despite teachers’ reports that children displayed more severe behaviours than were reported by parents, teacher-reported EFDs were not significantly associated with Child Domain parenting stress, with a few exceptions. Although not a well-explored concept within the literature on ADHD and parenting stress, parental acceptance of the child emerged as source of Child Domain parenting stress and a potential focus for assessment and treatment. Findings from the current study suggest that early identification and intervention with emotional control difficulties and ODD are vital due to their strong association with clinically significant levels of Child Domain parenting stress.

<p>Caregivers of survivors of pediatric cancer face ongoing social, emotional and financial challenges that may result in enduring illness- and caregiving-related distress. After patients complete treatment there are challenges that persist. Indeed, emerging physical and cognitive "late effects," resulting from the disease and treatment, require families to adapt to a new normal state that may require significant long-term follow-up and care by the survivor and their primary caregiver. This study compares the psychological adjustment of caregivers of pediatric cancer survivors with caregivers of healthy children. In addition, this study evaluates individual factors, such as family functioning and coping style, which may be associated with poorer adjustment among caregivers of pediatric cancer survivors. Caregivers of pediatric cancer survivors (n = 64) and caregivers of healthy children (n = 64) were recruited during regularly scheduled clinic visits to complete questionnaires including a demographic and illness questionnaire and measures of psychosocial functioning. A series of multivariate analyses of covariance were conducted to assess for differences in caregiver distress by group. Caregivers of survivors reported significantly more child-specific parenting stress and somatization than caregivers of healthy children. Hierarchical regression modeling revealed that Escape-avoidance coping and Supportive family functioning predicted 25-40% of the variance in parenting-related psychological adjustment among caregivers of survivors. Caregivers of pediatric cancer survivors face unique challenges that contribute to ongoing distress, particularly related to the parenting role. This population may benefit from interventions aimed at reducing avoidance based coping and improving family functioning.</p> / Dissertation

The transition to motherhood requires adjustments to new roles and growing demands on time and financial resources. Consequently, this transition can be a time of emotional upheaval and can often lead to increased levels of maternal stress. Research on parenting stress has identified social support as an important resource for coping with the demands of parenting, but, empirical studies also show that access to social support is likely to differ based on one’s socioeconomic status. Consequently, levels and effects of support may differ by maternal educational level. The primary purpose of the current study is to investigate the associations between four types of perceived support, maternal educational attainment and maternal parenting stress. The study sample is drawn from the first year follow-up wave of the Fragile Families and Child Well-being dataset (n=2412) and includes only mothers who were involved with the father of the child at the time of the child’s birth. Fragile Families is a nationally based, longitudinal birth cohort study of approximately 4,800 mothers and their children. Data were analyzed using multivariate regression modeling to investigate direct effects of perceived support and education on maternal stress as well as testing a moderating effect of education on the association between perceived support and maternal stress. The results showed that perceived support from one’s partner significantly lowers maternal stress regardless of the level or type of support (emotional, mothering or instrumental) that the partner provides. Expected support from kin or friends does not have an effect on maternal stress. The effect of perceived support differs by education level for two types of partner support: support of mothering practices and instrumental support. Increased symptoms of depression and fussy child temperament each increase maternal stress levels. Investigation of the direct effect of various types of perceived support on maternal stress indicate that partner support is critical during the first year of motherhood. Results reveal that not all types of perceived support affect maternal stress with the same magnitude. Thus, special attention should be given to the context within a mother is functioning. / text

The demands on fathers to be more involved with their children have steadily been increasing since the 1970s. However, fathers have received less attention in the social science literature compared to mothers. This difference is evident regarding the parenting practices of ethnic minority fathers such as nonresident Black fathers. This dissertation investigates the effects of nonresident Black fathers’ perceptions of the coparenting relationship and coparenting support on their perceived father involvement and their perceived paternal stressors; while testing the mediating effects of maternal gatekeeping. The dissertation is presented in a three manuscript-style format with the intent to publish each manuscript in peer-reviewed journals. The aim of the first manuscript is to assess the cross-cultural adaptation and reliability of a modified Everyday Stressors Index titled, the Everyday Stressors Index-Minority Nonresident Fathers version (ESI-MNF). Using a sample of 105 nonresident Black fathers, the ESI-MNF was developed to include items that measure aspects of ethnic minority stressors and characteristics of nonresident fathering. The results indicate that the ESI-MNF is reliable. A paternal stressors subscale emerged that indicated specific areas of stress for nonresident fathers. The goal of the second manuscript is to test the effects of nonresident Black fathers’ perceptions of the coparenting relationship and coparenting support on their perceived paternal stressors; while testing the mediating effects of maternal gatekeeping. Results show that the mediating effects of maternal gatekeeping behaviors are minimized when the relationships with their children’s mothers are good and their children’s mothers are perceived as supportive. The purpose of the third manuscript is to test two models of nonresident Black father involvement with maternal gatekeeping as a mediator. Model 1 tests the mediating effects of maternal gatekeeping when parenting with one mother. Model 2 tests the effects of maternal gatekeeping when parenting with two mothers. For the sample of fathers with multiple sets of nonresident children, the results indicate that the dimensions of father involvement may be different when parenting with the first mother and when parenting with the second mother.

Abstract Background: World Health Organization highlights an increasing world-wide problem regarding mental ill health, disorders and difficulties among children and adolescent. Research has found that health-related impairments do not only affect the children suffering from it, but their parents as well who report negative influences on their own health and burdens of different kinds. Play therapy is suitable when treating children with mental ill health, disorders and difficulties. To improve the parents´ health as well, there is a need for research looking into which kinds of interventions that is beneficial for both children and their parents. Purpose: The aim with this study was to investigate whether children´s participation in play therapy also could be beneficial for their parent´s perceived health. It was also of interest to investigate if these parents experienced the intervention as stress-reducing and social support increasing. Method: Four parents whose children had been treated or were currently treated in play therapy participated in an individual, semi-structured interview. The collected material was processed through a thematic analysis and interpreted based on the Theory of social support. Result: Four out of four participants considered themselves at better perceived health since the child´s participation in play therapy. All participants also experienced a stress-reducing effect and three out of four considered the intervention as considerably social support increasing.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, May, 2008. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Parental responsivity can profoundly influence developmental trajectories and child outcomes. This study aimed to learn more about the contextual risk and protective factors that influence parental self-efficacy (PSE), depression, parenting stress, and subsequent parental responsivity in low-income mothers of preschoolers. Two models predicting responsivity were tested using longitudinal data (N = 307) from the Early Steps Multisite Study. Predictors included: parent ethnic discrimination, SES discrimination, neighborhood danger, satisfaction with social support, overall life satisfaction, neighborhood connectedness, PSE, depression, and parenting stress related to daily hassles. Structural equation modeling was used to test for overall model fit, as well as direct and indirect relations between the variables over three time points. Model 1 controlled for maternal depression, while Model 2 incorporated maternal depression into the model as a predictor at Time 1. Two post hoc models that included depression at two time points were also tested. Models 1 and 2 adequately fit the data, while the post hoc models fit the data very well. Results indicated that discrimination and perceptions of danger in the neighborhood were related to lower satisfaction with social support, lower overall life satisfaction, and lower feelings of connectedness with the neighborhood. Adverse factors also predicted maternal responsivity at Time 3. Protective factors were predictive of high PSE and responsivity over time. Earlier experiences of depression were predictive of parenting stress and depression over time. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Serving children with special health care needs (SHCN) or developmental disabilities (DD) and their families is an important public health issue (Healthy People, 2020). The prevalence of children with special health care needs or developmental disabilities is significant and increasing (Boyle et al., 2011). Caregivers of children with SHCN or DD and their families demand clinical and research attention given the potential range of health and well-being outcomes that are associated with their children’s developmental or medical complexity. The purpose of this dissertation study was to use a quantitative descriptive research design to examine the experiences of pediatric parenting stress and family support for a sample of caregivers of children representing diverse special health care needs or developmental disabilities. Data were collected at four agencies that provide a range of services to children with SHCN or DD and their families. The data for 167 caregiver participants were used for the preliminary and main statistical analyses. Statistical analyses including pearson product moment correlations, independent-samples t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests, internal consistency reliability analyses, and factor analyses. Present study findings revealed that (a) the Pediatric Inventory for Parents (PIP) and Family Support Scale (FSS) measures did not appear to be internally consistent for this study sample; (b) the existing PIP and FSS factor structures did not fit the present study data well; (c) the present study sample had higher levels of pediatric parenting stress and lower levels of family support overall as compared to previous study samples of caregivers for children with chronic conditions; (d) the current study sample’s experiences of pediatric parenting stress and family support differed significantly by several caregiver, child, and family correlates; and (e) the current study sample’s levels of pediatric parenting stress and family support had a positive, significant association. Study findings emphasized the potential roles of stress and support in the caregiving experiences for children with SHCN or DD. Recommendations for further study of this caregiving population and their families are discussed.

Sammanfattning   Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur föräldrar upplevde sitt föräldraskap fram tills barnet fyllde 18 år.   Metoden som användes var en kvalitativ ansats. Resultatet samlades in med hjälp av semistrukturerade intervjuer. Urvalsgruppen bestod av fyra föräldrar varav två mammor och två pappor i åldrarna 40-50 år, där föräldrarna varit sammanboende under barnets första 18 år. Respondenterna rekryterades via facebook i ett offentligt inlägg där de kunde anmäla sitt deltagande frivilligt. Intervjuerna spelades in med en smartphone och transkiberades sedan. Materialet analyserades ur ett fenomenologiskt perspektiv.   Resultatet visade att det bästa stödet i sitt föräldraskap fick de från sin partner, nära släkt, vänner och bekanta med barn i samma ålder. Majoriteten upplevde att de fick sämre stöd från skolan och saknade föräldrastöd från samhället. Respondenterna kände stress i form av tidsbrist samt av att konstant vara engagerad i barnets skolgång. Alla föräldrarna upplevde höga krav på sig själv och kände sig otillräckliga då de ville vara en så bra förälder som möjligt. Samtliga respondenter uppgav att de hade tappat/ eller saknat kontrollen som förälder någon gång. Gemensamt för alla föräldrarna i urvalsgruppen var att de ville uppfostra sina barn enligt en auktoritativ fostransstil.   Slutsatsen av studien visade att föräldrarna kände bristande föräldrastöd från samhället. De kände sig stressade på grund av tidsbrist samt otillräckliga som förälder med höga krav på sig själv. / Abstract   Title: Parenthood Challenges-An Interview Study   Course: Public Health C: Theory and method of application and degree. Bachelor Theses in Public Health, 15 hp.   Program: Health education program, Department of Occupational and Public Health Sciences, University of Gävle.   Author: Regina Krantz   The purpose of the study was to investigate how parents perceived their parenthood until their child received the age of 18.    The used method was a qualitative approach and the results were collected by using semi-structured interviews. The selection group consisted of four parents, two mothers and two fathers in the age between 40-50 years, and the parents were cohabitants during the first 18 years of their child. The respondents were recruited through facebook in a public post where they could voluntarily report their participation .  The interviews were recorded with a smartphone and then transcribed. The material was analyzed with a phenomenological perspective.   The results showed that the best support in their parenthood was received from their partner, close relatives, friends and acquaintances with children in the same age. The majority experienced poorer support from the school and lacked parent support from society. Respondents felt stress in terms of lack of time and constant involvement in their child's schooling. All the parents experienced high demands on themselves and felt insufficient as they wanted to be a good parent. All respondents stated that they had sometime lost/ missed control as a parent. Common to all the parents in the selection group was that they would raise their children according to an authoritative foster style.   The conclusion of the study showed that the parents felt lack of parental support from society. They felt stressed due to lack of time and insufficient as parents with high demands on themselves.