Objective: This study explored the relationships between fatigue, wellbeing and parenting in mothers of young children (aged 0-4 years) with sleep and settling difficulties. Demographic, child sleep and maternal factors associated with fatigue were also investigated. Background: Children's sleep problems can have a significant impact on parent's sleep, placing them at risk of fatigue and wellbeing difficulties. Methods: A total of 164 mothers of children aged 0-4 attending an early parenting centre completed a survey on fatigue, wellbeing and parenting. Results: Mothers reported moderate levels of fatigue, which was associated with high levels of depression, anxiety and stress. Fatigue was also significantly associated with low parental self-efficacy, parenting warmth and involvement, and high parenting hostility. Limited health and self-care behaviours, unrealistic expectations about sleep, and high need for social support were significant predictors of fatigue. Conclusion: These findings provide an empirical basis for the development of information and support for the prevention and management of parental fatigue, and have implications for professionals working with parents of children with sleep difficulties.
Background: Early parenting centres are in a unique position to identify and provide support to fathers experiencing mental health difficulties. However, the extent to which fathers attending these services experience mental health difficulties is not known. This study aimed to assess fathers' mental health, identify specific clinical profiles based on the severity and pattern of self‐reported symptoms of depression, stress, anxiety, and fatigue and identify factors associated with poorer mental health. Methods: Participants were 144 fathers admitted to a residential programme. Socio‐demographic information and symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and fatigue were collected using standardised instruments. Results: The proportion of fathers reporting distress in the clinical ranges for stress, anxiety, and depression were 17%, 6%, and 9%, respectively. Latent class analysis identified two distinct groups or clinical profiles of fathers, representing mild (84%) and high distress (16%). Poor physical health, severity of child's sleep disruption, low socio‐economic position, and poor self‐care were associated with high distress. Conclusions: Fathers attending early parenting services are at risk of experiencing significant levels of distress, anxiety, stress, and fatigue. Early Parenting Services can play a critical role in screening and identifying fathers experiencing poor mental health and link them into appropriate mental health support.
BackgroundAustralia’s Early Parenting Services support families and intervene early in mental health problems in parents. The Victorian Early Parenting Strategy, a platform for government policy recommended a stronger evidence base for early parenting services. Tweddle Child and Family Health Service (TCFHS) is a not-for-profit public sector early parenting centre, which provides residential, day stay, home visiting and outreach programs. This study aimed i) to examine the health, social circumstances and presenting needs of clients attending the Tweddle Day Stay Program (DSP) with infants under 12 months old and ii) to assess the parent mental health and infant behaviour outcomes and the factors associated with program success.MethodsA cohort of clients was recruited prior to admission and followed-up 8 weeks after discharge. Data were collected using standardised measures in a study specific questionnaire at baseline, participant’s Tweddle records and a follow-up telephone interview. Health, social circumstances and presenting needs of clients were described. Changes in parents’ symptoms of depression and infants’ sleep and settling between admission and follow-up were calculated. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine factors associated with changes in primary outcomes.ResultsOf the total 162 clients who were eligible and invited to participate, 115 (72%) were recruited. Parents admitted to the DSP had worse general self-reported physical and mental health than community samples. Infants of DSP participants were no more likely to be premature or have low birth weight, but significantly more unsettled than other community samples. Participants’ mental health and their infants’ behaviours were significantly improved after DSP admission. In multivariate analysis, higher depression score at baseline and greater educational attainment were significantly associated with improvements in parents’ mental health. Worse unsettled infant behaviours and longer time between discharge and follow up were significantly associated with improvements in infant sleep and settling.ConclusionsTweddle DSPs appear to respond effectively to the needs of families presenting with substantial physical and emotional health morbidity and a range of vulnerabilities by treating parental mental health and infant behaviour problems together. DSPs offer important potential benefits for prevention of more serious family problems and consequent health care cost savings.
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