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Risk factors for stress in children after parental stroke

Dominik Sebastian Sieh1, Anne Marie Meijer, Johanna M A Visser-Meily

  • 1Research Institute of Child Development and Education, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Prinsengracht 130, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. D.S.Sieh@uva.nl

Rehabilitation Psychology
|December 22, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Parental stroke significantly impacts children, with girls experiencing more stress. Early identification of children

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Psychology
  • Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

  • Parental stroke is a significant life event impacting family dynamics and child well-being.
  • Children of stroke survivors face unique challenges and potential long-term psychological effects.
  • Understanding risk factors for childhood stress post-parental stroke is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify risk factors associated with stress in children 3 years after a parent experienced a stroke.
  • To explore the relationship between parental functioning, marital quality, and childhood stress.
  • To establish predictors for long-term stress in children following parental stroke.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 44 children (aged 7-18), their stroke-affected parents, and healthy spouses from 29 families participated.
  • Data were collected via questionnaires at four time points: start of rehabilitation to 3 years post-stroke.
  • Key measures included patient functioning, parental depression, marital relationship quality, and children's stress levels.

Main Results:

  • Female children reported higher stress levels than male children.
  • Maternal and paternal depressive symptoms during the first year post-stroke were positively correlated with children's stress.
  • Patient depressive symptoms at 2 months, 1 year, and 3 years post-stroke were linked to increased childhood stress.
  • Decreased marital relationship quality over time was also associated with higher stress in children.

Conclusions:

  • Children's gender (female) and patient's depressive symptoms are significant predictors of long-term stress.
  • Early identification of these factors can aid in predicting and mitigating stress in children after parental stroke.
  • Interventions targeting parental mental health may positively influence child outcomes.
Abstract

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