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Child sleep problems mediate prospective associations between fathers' parenting stress and child blood glucose

Alp Aytuglu1, Jennifer E Graham-Engeland1, Mark E Feinberg2

  • 1Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University.

Journal of Family Psychology : JFP : Journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43)
|January 17, 2025
PubMed

Insights

First-time fathers' parenting stress in infancy is linked to their children's increased diabetes risk later in childhood, mediated by sleep problems. Early interventions supporting fathers and improving child sleep may protect metabolic health.

Area of Science:

  • Child Development
  • Metabolic Health
  • Psychological Stress

Background:

  • Parenting stress in early life can have long-term effects on child health.
  • Childhood sleep problems are increasingly recognized as a risk factor for metabolic dysfunction.
  • The role of paternal factors in child health outcomes requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between first-time fathers' parenting stress during infancy and their children's glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in middle childhood.
  • To investigate whether child sleep problems mediate the relationship between paternal parenting stress and child HbA1c.
  • To understand the pathway linking paternal stress to child metabolic health.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study involving 306 fathers and their children.
  • Fathers reported on parenting stress at 10 months postpartum.
  • Child sleep problems were reported by fathers at 24 months postpartum.
  • Children's HbA1c levels (a marker of diabetes risk) were measured via dried blood spots around age 7.

Main Results:

  • Increased paternal parenting stress was associated with more frequent child sleep problems.
  • Child sleep problems were linked to higher child HbA1c levels.
  • A significant indirect effect of paternal parenting stress on child HbA1c was found, mediated by child sleep problems.

Conclusions:

  • Paternal parenting stress during infancy may impact child metabolic health through the pathway of sleep problems.
  • Interventions targeting paternal well-being and child sleep in early childhood could mitigate risks to children's metabolic health.
  • Addressing paternal stress and sleep issues may be crucial for preventing long-term health consequences in children.

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