Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2025
Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
Published on: September 19, 2019
Increased family psychosocial focus during children's developmental assessments: a study of parents' views
Sarah Strøyer de Voss1, Philip Michael John Wilson2, Ruth Kirk Ertmann2
1Centre for General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, bg. 24, opg. Q, København K, 1353, Denmark. svo@sund.ku.dk.
Insights
Parents are open to discussing family psychosocial challenges during child development assessments. Addressing parental and clinician expectations is key for effective communication and support in early childhood.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Family Medicine
- Psychosocial Health
Background:
- Family psychosocial challenges in early childhood are linked to later child mental and physical health issues.
- Routine child developmental assessments may benefit from increased psychosocial focus on parents.
- This qualitative study is part of Project Family Wellbeing (NCT04129359).
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore parental acceptance of discussing psychosocial circumstances during child developmental assessments.
- To identify factors facilitating and hindering psychosocial discussions between parents and clinicians.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving 11 mothers and one parental couple with children aged 9-23 months.
- Interviews conducted using a topic guide based on the Health Belief Model.
- Thematic analysis applied to transcribed interviews.
Main Results:
- Parents generally welcome discussions about their psychosocial situation during child assessments.
- Facilitators include open communication, trustful relationships, and aligned expectations.
- Barriers involve short consultation times, data usage concerns, and perceived stigma or irrelevance of topics.
Conclusions:
- Inquiring about family psychosocial circumstances in developmental assessments is acceptable to parents.
- Aligning parental and clinical expectations can enhance the assessment process.
- Further research is needed on the predictive validity of developmental assessment components.
Background:
Family psychosocial challenges during the early years of a child's life are associated with later mental and physical health problems for the child. An increased psychosocial focus on parents in routine child developmental assessments may therefore be justified.
Methods:
Participants in this qualitative study included 11 mothers and one parental couple (mother and father) with children aged 9-23 months. Participants were recruited to Project Family Wellbeing through their general practice in Denmark. Twelve interviews were conducted, transcribed and analysed with a deductive approach. The topic guide drew on the core components of the Health Belief Model, which also served as a framework for the coding that was conducted using thematic analysis.
Results:
Results are presented in four themes and 11 subthemes in total. Parents welcome discussion of their psychosocial circumstances during their child's developmental assessments. Clinicians' initiatives to address psychosocial challenges and alignment of parents' and clinicians' expectations may be required to allow this discussion. A flowing conversation, an open communication style and a trustful relationship facilitate psychosocial discussion. Barriers included short consultation time, concerns about how information was used and when parents found specific psychosocial aspects stigmatising or irrelevant to discuss.
Conclusion:
Enquiry about the family's psychosocial circumstances in routine developmental assessments is acceptable among parents. Alignment of clinical and parental expectations of developmental assessments could facilitate the process. Future research should examine the predictive validity of the various components of developmental assessments.
Trial Registration:
This is a qualitative study. The study participants are part of the cohort from Project Family Wellbeing (FamilieTrivsel). The project's trial registry number: NCT04129359. Registered October 16th 2019.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
01:27Parenting Styles
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...
01:23Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....
01:30Socioemotional Development during Infancy
Primary Temperament Types
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
01:28Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Childhood
The first four of Erikson's eight...