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Ill parents' mental and physical well-being and their young children's emotional and behavioral difficulties: A
Meirav Hen1, Isabella Mirochnik2, Nawras Nassar2
1The Department of Psychology, Tel-Hai Academic College.
Insights
Ill parents' mental well-being significantly impacts children's emotional and behavioral issues. Family functioning, social support, and parent-child dialogue are crucial factors influencing child well-being.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Parental Health
- Family Dynamics
Background:
- Children of ill parents experience heightened vulnerability and emotional/behavioral challenges.
- Parental mental well-being and physical functioning are critical factors affecting child development.
- Understanding these dynamics is essential for targeted family support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between ill parents' mental well-being and children's internalizing/externalizing symptoms.
- To investigate the mediating roles of family functioning, social support, and parent-child communication.
- To explore parent-child dialogue as a moderator in the association between parental mental health and child symptoms.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 60 ill parents (diabetes, cancer, affective disorders) with young children was recruited from outpatient clinics.
- Parents completed self-report questionnaires assessing their mental well-being, family functioning, and social support.
- Data were analyzed to determine the predictive and mediating relationships between parental and child outcomes.
Main Results:
- Lower parental mental component score (MCS) significantly predicted increased child internalizing and externalizing symptoms.
- Family Assessment Device (FAD) scores and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) negatively mediated this association.
- Limited parent-child dialogue about illness exacerbated the negative impact of parental mental health on child internal symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Parental mental well-being is a key determinant of children's emotional and behavioral difficulties.
- Family functioning, social support, and open communication about illness are vital for mitigating negative impacts.
- Future research should explore diverse parental illnesses, cultural contexts, and family characteristics to refine interventions.
Introduction:
The children of ill parents are in a state of vulnerability, facing a range of emotional and behavioral difficulties. This study is a dedicated effort to delve into the relationships between the mental well-being (mental component score [MCS]) and daily physical functioning of ill parents and the internal and external difficulties experienced by their young children. The study also explores the mediating role of family functioning (Family Assessment Device), social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support), and parents' communication of the illness with their young child (parent-child dialogue) as a moderating factor.
Method:
The sample included 60 ill parents with either diabetes, cancer, or an affective mental disorder of young children recruited from outpatient clinics in a regional medical center. All parents completed self-report questionnaires.
Results:
Findings showed that ill parents' MCS negatively and significantly predicted the presence of the child's internalized and externalized symptoms, and the level of Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Family Assessment Device negatively mediated this association. Low levels of parent-child dialogue had a significant negative impact on the association between the ill parent's MCS and the child's internal symptoms.
Discussion:
The results underscore the pivotal role of ill parents' mental well-being in the emotional and behavioral difficulties of young children. They highlight the potential influence of family functioning, social support, and parent-child dialogue about the illness on both parents and their young children. Future studies must delve deeper into this topic, considering different parental illnesses, cultures, and family/child characteristics to enhance family support systems and interventions further. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).
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