BackgroundMental health problems (MHP) of parents are associated with an increased risk of psychological and developmental difficulties in their children. This study aims at analyzing population-based data of parents with MHP and their children and the effects of associated risk factors in order to further targeted preventive and therapeutic interventions.MethodsThe BELLA study is the mental health module of the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey among Children and Adolescents. MHP in parents and in their children as well as associated risk factors were examined in a sample of N = 1158 parents with children aged 11 to 17 years.ResultsParental MHP were identified in 18.6% of the sample. Risk factors associated with parental MHP were low SES, parental unemployment, stressful life events, parental daily strain, parental chronic disease, and child MHP. A rate of 19.1% of the children of parents with MHP reported MHP themselves, the corresponding rate among children of parents without MHP was 7.7%. In multiple regression analyses the risk for children of parents with MHP to report MHP themselves was almost two times higher than the risk of children of parents without MHP. Other significant associations with child MHP included gender, the parents’ age, and stressful life events.ConclusionsParental MHP constitute a significant risk for the mental health of their children. Targeted screening methods and preventive interventions are needed.

Parents caring for children with rare diseases fear the long-term progression of the child’s disease. The current study aims to systematically investigate the quality of life (QoL) in parents of children with different rare diseases. We performed a systematic literature search including quantitative studies on QoL of parents caring for children and adolescents with rare diseases in five databases (APA PsycArticles, APA PsycInfo, MEDLINE, PSYNDEXplus, and PubMed) published between 2000–2020. Of the 3985 titles identified, 31 studies met the inclusion criteria and were selected for narrative review. Studies were included if they investigated predictors of parental QoL or reported QoL compared to normative samples, parents of healthy children, or children with other chronic diseases. We used the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale to assess methodological quality. The systematic review revealed that parents of children with rare diseases experience reduced QoL compared to parents with healthy children and norm values. Psychosocial factors, beyond disease-specific predictors, were shown to influence parental QoL substantially and may thus present an essential aspect within interventions for this highly burdened group. Health care professionals should consider and address the impairment of parental QoL due to the child’s rare disease. We discuss insights into existing research gaps and improvements for subsequent work.

Parental mental illness can be linked to reduced family functioning, which is associated with more conflicts, less adaptability and cohesion as well as a disorganized pattern of everyday planning. Concurrently, family functioning is an important moderator for the influence of parental mental disorders on the development of the children. Consequently, the current study addresses the correlation of family functioning in families with mentally ill parents and the psychological health of the children. The sample consists of 67 mentally ill parents. Both parents and therapists completed questionnaires related to family functioning and the psychological health of the children. Family functioning was rated as dysfunctional in 38% of the families. The psychological health of the children was classified as clinical or subclinical in 43% of the cases. 52% of the children were rated to have no psychological problems. In families with good family functioning, children were assessed to have less psychological problems than in families with poor functioning. Children outside the clinical range lived in families with good family functioning and vice versa. Significant positive correlations were found between the FB-A scales, the CBCL/4-18 syndrome scales and the CBCL/4–18 total score. Results indicate that family functioning and psychological health of children in families with mentally ill parents correlate closely and represent potential targets for future family interventions.

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BackgroundThe psychometric properties and cross-informant agreement of a German translation of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) were assessed in a clinical sampleMethods102 children and adolescents in outpatient psychotherapy and their parents filled out the SCARED and Youth Self Report/Child Behaviour Checklist (YSR/CBCL).ResultsThe German SCARED showed good internal consistency for both parent and self-report version, and proved to be convergently and discriminantly valid when compared with YSR/CBCL scales. Cross-informant agreement was moderate with children reporting both a larger number as well as higher severity of anxiety symptoms than their parents.ConclusionIn conclusion, the German SCARED is a valid and reliable anxiety scale and may be used in a clinical setting

Die Kinder psychisch kranker Eltern sind als Hochrisikogruppe für die Entwicklung psychischer Störungen bekannt, wobei die Zahlen betroffener Kinder in verschiedenen Studien schwanken. Bei der Frage, ob die Kinder später selbst erkranken, spielen Risiko- und Schutzfaktoren eine entscheidende Rolle. Im Rahmen einer Elternbefragung wurden psychopathologische Auffälligkeiten von Kindern psychisch kranker Eltern untersucht (n = 62). Kinder psychisch kranker Eltern weisen drei- bis zu siebenfach erhöhte Auffälligkeitsraten gegenüber der Allgemeinbevölkerung auf. Die Auffälligkeiten der Kinder stehen im Zusammenhang mit der subjektiv erlebten elterlichen Beeinträchtigung durch die Erkrankung. Die Ergebnisse geben deutliche Hinweise darauf, dass die Entwicklung geeigneter präventiver Maßnahmen sinnvoll und notwendig erscheint.

BackgroundThe aim was to assess the association of internalising and externalising pathology with the child’s health-related quality of life (QoL), and to determine which child and environmental characteristics beyond pathology were related to poor QoL.MethodsData was obtained for 120 children and adolescents (aged 6 to 18) commencing outpatient psychotherapy treatment. Parents and children (aged 11 years and older) filled out questionnaires. QoL was measured with the KIDSCREEN-27.ResultsQoL was more strongly associated with internalising than externalising pathology according to both self- and parent report. Multiple regression analyses showed that beyond internalising and externalising pathology, gender, age, family functioning, functional impairment, and prior mental health treatment were associated with individual QoL scales.ConclusionsThe data underscored the relationship between mental pathology and impaired QoL even if potential item overlap was controlled for. This stresses the importance of extending therapy goals and outcome measures from mere pathology to measures of QoL in psychotherapy research particularly for patients with internalising pathology.

(1) Parents caring for children and adolescents with rare diseases fear the long-term progression of the child’s disease and the loss of their parental role. The aim of this study was to examine the quality of life, mental health and associated protective factors of mothers and fathers caring for children with rare diseases requiring mechanical long-term ventilation. (2) In a cross-sectional design, data on quality of life, mental health, coping mechanisms, social support and family functioning from n = 75 affected families were collected using standardized psychometric questionnaires. (3) Mothers compared to fathers were significantly more impaired in their quality of life and mental health. Protective factors significantly associated with the respective outcomes for mothers were coping mechanisms, social support and family functioning, whereas for fathers solely the latter was found to be significant. Multiple regression analyses showed that family functioning may be the most important predictor of quality of life and mental health. (4) The results support the need for family-oriented care in parents of children with rare diseases. To reach optimal efficiency, health care providers should not only screen parents for psychosocial impairment but also provide interventions that consider gender-specific differences in psychological health.