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Parenting in Face of Health Challenges: Research and Interventions

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A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Pediatric Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 October 2021) | Viewed by 46859

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Dr. Dora Isabel Fialho Pereira

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Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Madeira, Campus da Penteada, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
Interests: parenting assessment; child protection; systemic intervention; parenting capacity; parenting skills; mental health
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Health can be considered as a major asset or a special challenge for parenting, as situations such as mental disorders, chronic diseases, or long-term treatments require major changes and adaptations in a family life or, more specifically, in parenting functioning in order to assure children’s needs. Since parenting is an interpersonal process, the health conditions of both children and parents influence it. In addition, the health conditions of parents may also impact the quality of children’s development, being sometimes associated with a higher risk of child abuse and neglect. Gathering and mobilizing adequate internal and external resources (as parenting capacity, skills, or social support) to deal with the health conditions of parents, children, or both are a major concern for many researchers and professionals in health care, as well as in social services, education, or justice.

This Special Issue welcomes submissions from any discipline focused on universal, indicated, or specialized preventive approaches to parenting in the presence of some kind of health challenge, based on conceptual models and interventions with parents (including kinship care, foster parents, and adoptive parents), and their impact on children’s and parents wellbeing. We particularly welcome multidisciplinary approaches, examining different health conditions in diverse settings (community, schools, health services) and regions of the world. Systematic reviews, pilot studies, case studies, description of innovative practices or impact evaluations of parenting interventions and programs are welcome.

Dr. Dora Isabel Fialho Pereira
Guest Editor

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

health conditions
parenting skills
parenting capacity
prevention
intervention
children' well-being
impact studies
innovative practices

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Published Papers (12 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research

2 pages, 184 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Parenting and Health: The Major Challenge of Complex Relations

by Dora Pereira

Children 2021, 8(10), 928; https://doi.org/10.3390/children8100928 - 17 Oct 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1754

Abstract

Parenting is an interpersonal process associated with taking care and fostering the healthy development of children and young people [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parenting in Face of Health Challenges: Research and Interventions)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

9 pages, 284 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Parental Evaluation of the Socio-Personal Adjustment of High Ability Students in a Cluster Grouping Program

by María de los Dolores Valadez, Julián Betancourt, Triana Aguirre, Elena Rodríguez-Naveiras and África Borges

Children 2022, 9(1), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/children9010044 - 2 Jan 2022

Viewed by 1924

Abstract

High ability students have differential cognitive characteristics that require a specific educational response to develop their full potential. Cluster ability grouping is one of the available approaches to respond to their training. One of the main criticisms of this teaching method, also supported by the big-fish-little-pond effect (BFLPE), is that high ability students may show a decrease in their self-concept. The aim of this research is to present the evaluation carried out by parents of primary school high ability students on the effect of an educational cluster grouping program on their personal and social adjustment, comparing these variables before the beginning of the school year and at the end of it. Approximately 100 students’ parents of the Educational Centre for Highly Ability Pupils participated in the evaluation. The instrument used for the evaluation was the Socialization Battery (BAS-2) for parents. The results showed that parents observed some improvements, either due to an increase in the scales measuring positive socialization variables or a decrease in the scales measuring negative socialization variables. The most substantial improvements are found in the second and third grades. We conclude that the results do not support the big-fish-little-pond effect (BFLPE). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parenting in Face of Health Challenges: Research and Interventions)

17 pages, 397 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Parenting during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Portugal: Changes in Daily Routines, Co-Parenting Relationships, Emotional Experiences, and Support Networks

by Ana P. Antunes, Silvana Martins, Laura Magalhães and Ana T. Almeida

Children 2021, 8(12), 1124; https://doi.org/10.3390/children8121124 - 3 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4075

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic challenged parental resources pertinent to coping with lockdowns. The main objective of this work was to study parenting during the COVID-19 lockdown. Specifically at focus were parental behaviors concerning key domains for the family (daily routine, co-parenting, emotional experience, and support network) and changes related to the pandemic and associated with the parents’ employment statuses. An online survey was carried out through an ad hoc questionnaire where participants completed questions about their sociodemographic data and rated how much their family routines, their co-parenting relationship, their emotional experiences, and the support available in the family network varied on a 5-point scale. The participants included 1384 parents, of which 286 responded to open questions regarding impactful experiences during the lockdown. The results showed differences in daily routine, co-parenting, emotional experience, and support network according to the parents’ employment statuses. Between-group comparisons showed that at-home parents caring for children with governmental aids generally revealed more positive parenting behavior changes, while at-home parents who were teleworking reported more difficulties in parent-child activities and co-parenting. Furthermore, the content analysis of the data confirmed how important themes such as family dynamics, professional activities, and the relationship with the school community were throughout the participants’ accounts of gains and losses. Overall, parents’ employment statuses are associated with diverse experiences during lockdown. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of family resources and parental resilience, particularly during circumstances jeopardizing the ever-sensitive work-family balance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parenting in Face of Health Challenges: Research and Interventions)

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9 pages, 276 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Obstetric Outcomes in the Surviving Fetus after Intrauterine Fetal Death in Bichorionic Twin Gestations

by María de la Calle, Jose L. Bartha, Henar Serrano and David Ramiro-Cortijo

Children 2021, 8(10), 927; https://doi.org/10.3390/children8100927 - 16 Oct 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2970

Abstract

Twin pregnancies are high-risk gestations that increase the odds of obstetrical complications. They can also present specific and rare complications such as single intrauterine fetal death (IUFD). This complication has been extensively studied in monochorionic but not in bichorionic gestations. Today, the repercussions of IUFD may have on the surviving fetus, mother and bichorionic pregnancy are not known. Our objective was to study materno-obstetrical, fetal, and immediate delivery neonatal complications in bichorionic twin gestations with single IUFD compared to those with both fetuses alive. A retrospective and observational case-control study was performed in bichorionic biamniotic twin pregnancies, 22 complicated with single IUFD after 14 weeks (cases; IUFD group) and 51 with both fetuses alive (controls; non-IUFD group, from Obstetrics Service of La Paz Hospital (Madrid, Spain). The data were collected from obstetrical records. No significant differences were found in the rates of gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, neonatal complications, and prematurity between IUFD and non-IUFD groups. Statistical differences were found for the incidence of intrauterine growth restriction in the surviving fetus compared to first fetus of pregnancy with both fetuses alive (22.7% versus 2.0%, respectively; p-value = 0.012). There were no differences compared to second fetus (11.8%; p-value = 0.23). There was a high C-section rate in both groups (IUFD = 63.6%, non-IUFD = 64.7%; p-value = 0.19). In conclusion, single IUFD in bichorionic biamniotic twin gestations is a rare complication that should be closely monitored. It is essential that these gestations be attended by a clinical multidisciplinary team. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parenting in Face of Health Challenges: Research and Interventions)

17 pages, 854 KiB

Open AccessArticle

When Parents Go Shopping: Perspectives on Gender-Typed Toys among Polish Mothers and Fathers from Big Cities

by Kornelia Lipowska and Ariadna Beata Łada-Maśko

Children 2021, 8(9), 744; https://doi.org/10.3390/children8090744 - 28 Aug 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3754

Abstract

Children learn to understand gender categories and roles typical for women and men from the earliest stages of their life. Toys, by which they are surrounded in everyday routine, may have a significant role in their knowledge of cultural norms and societal expectations, but also might have a great impact on children’s health in the context of psychosocial development. Parental attitudes can also be an important moderator of the choice of gender-stereotyped toys. The aim of the study was to investigate parents’ perspectives on toys’ appropriateness for children according to gender, and to analyze parents’ knowledge about the labeling of toys in shops. In total, 526 parents from big cities participated in the study; to assess parental knowledge and perspectives on toys’ categorization, The World of Toys questionnaire was used. The results indicated that most parents from big cities observe that toys are arranged according to the child’s age and sex and the toys’ functionality. Moreover, in parents’ opinion, the compliance with the role of a woman or man affects categorization the most. Furthermore, both parents tended to attribute toys to both sexes more often than they believe the stores do. To conclude, despite the still visible division of toys in shops, Polish parents from big cities are more liberal and egalitarian than shops are when it comes to the perception of toys’ appropriateness, allowing children to play with most toys regardless of their sex. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parenting in Face of Health Challenges: Research and Interventions)

18 pages, 770 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Father Presence, Father Engagement, and Specific Health and Developmental Outcomes of Mongolian Pre-School Children

by Lesley A. Pablo, Ryenchindorj Erkhembayar and Colleen M. Davison

Children 2021, 8(7), 584; https://doi.org/10.3390/children8070584 - 8 Jul 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3245

Abstract

This study explored father involvement as a social determinant of child health within the context of macro-environmental changes in Mongolia. Using data for children aged 3–4 from UNICEF’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, this cross-sectional analysis examined the association between father presence and engagement with child health and educational outcomes. Multivariate regression modeling was employed to identify associations between father presence, engagement, and child outcomes including fever, respiratory illness, diarrhea and preschool attendance. In unadjusted analyses, father engagement was associated with higher odds of preschool attendance (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.12; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.04–1.20) but not with child illness (OR = 1.04; 95% CI 0.95–1.14). Father engagement was no longer associated with preschool attendance after controlling for potentially confounding variables (OR_adj = 0.95; 95% CI 0.88–1.03). Unadjusted and adjusted analyses showed that father presence was not associated with acute illness or preschool attendance. Results also suggest that a larger proportion of children were engaged in activities by their mother compared to their father or other adults. Data indicate that father presence and engagement were not associated with child illness or preschool attendance. Factors such as maternal education, household wealth, and region of residence are stronger predictors of preschool attendance and should continue to be considered for promoting child health and development in Mongolia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parenting in Face of Health Challenges: Research and Interventions)

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16 pages, 233 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Contextual Complexities in Implementing a Family-Based Childhood Obesity Intervention: The Perspectives of Enrolled Children and Their Parents

by Didde Hoeeg, Ulla Christensen, Louise Lundby-Christensen and Dan Grabowski

Children 2020, 7(12), 267; https://doi.org/10.3390/children7120267 - 2 Dec 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3332

Abstract

Family interventions to treat childhood obesity are widely used, but knowledge about how family dynamics are affected by these interventions is lacking. The present study aims to understand how a family intervention impacts the context of family dynamics, and how different contexts affect the families’ implementation of the intervention. Based on qualitative interviews, we studied families with a child between 9–12 years enrolled in a family intervention to treat childhood obesity at a pediatric outpatient clinic. We conducted 15 family interviews including 36 family members. We found that the family intervention created a new context for the enrolled children. They had to navigate in different contexts and non-supportive environments and push for change if they needed more supportive environments in their attempt to adhere to healthy habits. We show the complexities experienced by parents and grandparents when trying to comply with siblings’ and/or grandchildren’s different needs. The enrolled children were often indirectly blamed if others had to refrain from unhealthy preferences to create supportive environments. These findings are significant in understanding the important role of contexts in family-obesity interventions. This knowledge is relevant to health professionals, researchers, and policymakers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parenting in Face of Health Challenges: Research and Interventions)

14 pages, 1218 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Honoring the Good Parent Intentions of Courageous Parents: A Thematic Summary from a US-Based National Survey

by Meaghann S. Weaver, Marie L. Neumann, Blyth Lord, Lori Wiener, Junghyae Lee and Pamela S. Hinds

Children 2020, 7(12), 265; https://doi.org/10.3390/children7120265 - 1 Dec 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4038

Abstract

Background: Parents of children with complex medical needs describe an internal, personal definition of “trying to be a good parent” for their loved child. Gaps exist in the current “good parent concept” literature: (1) When the idea of “trying to be a good parent” comes into existence for parents, (2) How parents’ definition of “being a good parent” may change over time and may influence interactions with the child, and (3) Whether parents perceive attainment of their personal definition. Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore these current gaps in the “good parent concept” knowledge base from the perspective of parents of children with chronic or complex illness. Materials and Methods: These themes were explored through a 63-item, mixed-method web-based survey distributed by the Courageous Parents Network (CPN), an organization and online platform that orients, educates, and empowers families and providers caring for seriously ill children. Results: The term “trying to be a good parent” resonated with 85% of the 67 responding parents. For the majority of parents, the concept of “being a good parent” started to exist in parental awareness before the child’s birth (70.2%) and evolved over time (67.5%) to include less judgment and more self-compassion. Parents identified their awareness of their child’s prognosis and changing health as influential on their “trying to be a good parent” concept. Parental advocacy, child’s age, and duration of illness were reported as influencing parental perceptions of having achieved their definition of “being a good parent”. Conclusions: Familiarity with parental perspectives on their parenting goodness and goals is a necessary core of family-centric health care. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parenting in Face of Health Challenges: Research and Interventions)

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13 pages, 645 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy at Home—Is It Possible? Families and Children’s Experience

by Rocío Palomo-Carrión, Helena Romay-Barrero, Rita-Pilar Romero-Galisteo, Elena Pinero-Pinto, Purificación López-Muñoz and Inés Martínez-Galán

Children 2020, 7(11), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/children7110248 - 22 Nov 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4686

Abstract

Modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) is efficient at improving upper limb non-use. The experiences of families and children with mCIMT could allow researchers to understand how it influences their day-to-day life and to improve the function of the affected upper limb without altering family life and avoiding frustration. In this qualitative study, we aimed to collect the experiences of parents and their children (aged 4–8 years) who did mCIMT at home regarding the application of low-intensity modified constraint-induced movement therapy to improve the affected upper limb functionality in infantile hemiplegia with moderate manual ability. Individual semi-structured interviews were performed to obtain insights into their experience with mCIMT. The experiences of parents and children were described in thematic sections. Eight children with hemiplegia (six years, standard deviation, SD: 1.77) and their parents were asked about their experiences after applying 50 h of mCIMT at home. Three main themes emerged from the children’s interview data: (1) the experience of wearing the containment in the modified constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) intervention, (2) the reaction to performing the therapy at home with his/her family, and (3) learning of the affected upper limb. In the parents’ interview data, there were two main themes: (1) the difficulty of executing an intensive therapy protocol (mCIMT: 50 h) at home and (2) the feeling of not wanting to finish the intervention. The experiences of the parents and their children regarding mCIMT allowed us to understand the facilitators and barriers that affect the execution of mCIMT at home, and this understanding allows us to improve its future application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parenting in Face of Health Challenges: Research and Interventions)

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11 pages, 291 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predicting Quality of Life among Mothers in an Online Health Community for Children with Type 1 Diabetes

by Ju-Yeon Uhm and Myoung Soo Kim

Children 2020, 7(11), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/children7110235 - 18 Nov 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2782

Abstract

Quality of life of parents of children with chronic disease is important for disease self-management. This study aimed to identify predictors of quality of life among mothers of children with type 1 diabetes. A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 208 mothers of children with type 1 diabetes were recruited from an online health community. Online health community collective empowerment and social support, diabetes self-efficacy, diabetes-related burden, and quality of life were measured. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine predictive factors for quality of life. Multiple regression analysis showed that diabetes-related burden and the child’s age were predictors of quality of life, and total variance explained by the model was 64.1% using two factors. In mothers of younger children, it is important to reduce the diabetes-related burden. Factors that increase the diabetes-related burden should be identified, and strategies to reduce the diabetes-related burden must be established. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parenting in Face of Health Challenges: Research and Interventions)

14 pages, 1407 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Contextualizing Parental/Familial Influence on Physical Activity in Adolescents before and during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Analysis

by Barbara Gilic, Ljerka Ostojic, Marin Corluka, Tomislav Volaric and Damir Sekulic

Children 2020, 7(9), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/children7090125 - 3 Sep 2020

Cited by 56 | Viewed by 8910

Abstract

Parental and familial factors influence numerous aspects of adolescents’ lives, including their physical activity level (PAL). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in PAL which occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to evaluate influence of sociodemographic and parental/familial factors on PAL levels before and during pandemic in adolescents from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The sample included 688 adolescents (15–18 years of age; 322 females) who were tested on two occasions: in January 2020 (baseline; before the COVID-19 pandemic) and in April 2020 (follow-up; during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown). Variables included PAL (measured by the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents–PAQ-A) as well as sociodemographic-, parental-, and familial factors. A significant decline in PALs was recorded between baseline and follow-up (t-test: 11.88, p < 0.001). Approximately 50% of adolescents underwent sufficient PAL at baseline, while only 24% of them were achieving sufficient PAL at the time of follow-up measurement. Paternal education was positively correlated (OR (95%CI): baseline: 6.63 (4.58–9.96), follow-up: 3.33 (1.19–7.01)), while familial conflict was negatively correlated (baseline: 0.72 (0.57–0.90), follow-up: 0.77 (0.60–0.99)) with PALs before and during the pandemic. This study highlights the importance of the parent–child relationship and parental/familiar support in promoting physical activity both during regular life and during crises and health challenging situations like the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parenting in Face of Health Challenges: Research and Interventions)

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13 pages, 720 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Familial Factors Associating with Youth Physical Activity Using a National Sample

by Ryan D. Burns, Taylor E. Colotti, Christopher D. Pfledderer, You Fu, Yang Bai and Wonwoo Byun

Children 2020, 7(7), 79; https://doi.org/10.3390/children7070079 - 15 Jul 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3748

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of familial and child-related factors with reported child physical activity using a representative sample of US children and adolescents. Data were analyzed from the combined 2017–2018 National Survey of Children’s Health. Household addresses were randomly selected within each US state. One parent within each household answered health and wellness questions pertaining to one randomly selected child (n = 37,392; 48.8% female; 6–17 years old). Weighted logistic regression models examined the independent and joint associations between family-level and child-level factors with a child meeting the 60 min of physical activity per day guideline. After controlling for confounders, higher levels of family resilience (odds ratio (OR) = 2.17; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.35–3.49, p = 0.001), high event attendance (OR = 1.65; 95%CI: 1.18–2.31, p = 0.004), and high family income (OR = 1.84, 95%CI: 1.34–2.52, p < 0.001) significantly associated with higher odds of a child meeting the 60 min of physical activity per day guideline. Family generational status and adult education significantly modified the association between family resilience and child physical activity. Programs that develop family resilience and encourage parental attendance for their child’s events or activities may positively influence a child’s physical activity behaviors. Expanded or enhanced programming may be needed for lower income families. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parenting in Face of Health Challenges: Research and Interventions)

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