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Parental stress and growth outcome in growth-deficient children

W G Bithoney1, M M Van Sciver, S Foster

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Pediatrics
|October 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Parental competence and child adaptability, not overall stress, significantly impact growth deficiency (GD) outcomes. High parental competence and child adaptability are linked to better growth, challenging traditional views on GD causes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Child Psychology
  • Environmental Health

Background:

  • Growth deficiency (GD) is a complex condition with multifactorial etiology.
  • Understanding the interplay between parental factors, child characteristics, and environmental exposures is crucial for effective management.
  • Previous research has explored various contributors to GD, but the specific roles of parental stress and child psychosocial factors require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between parental stress, child psychosocial factors, anemia, lead poisoning, and growth deficiency (GD).
  • To compare parental stress levels and child characteristics between children with GD and a matched control group.
  • To identify psychosocial factors associated with improved growth outcomes in children with GD.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study involving 48 children with GD and 50 matched controls.
  • Parental stress was assessed using the Parenting Stress Index (PSI).
  • Children underwent developmental screening, hemoglobin and lead (Pb) level testing, and growth evaluation.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in overall parental stress were found between groups.
  • Parents of children with GD reported lower parental competence and child adaptability, and higher social isolation.
  • Children with GD exhibited higher rates of anemia and lead poisoning, but these were not directly correlated with adaptability or growth outcomes.
  • High parental competence and child adaptability were significantly associated with improved growth outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Overall parental stress levels do not differ between children with and without GD.
  • Parental competence and child adaptability are key factors associated with improved growth outcomes in children with GD.
  • Decreased child adaptability may play a role in the pathology of GD, challenging traditional etiological models.
Abstract

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