Association of parental social network diversity with behaviour problems and resilience of offspring in a large population-based study of Japanese children

Abstract

ObjectivesThe current study aimed to elucidate the impact of parental social network diversity on the behaviour problems and resilience of offspring.DesignWe used cross-sectional data from the Kochi Child Health Impact of Living Difficulty study in 2016.Setting and participantsParticipants were first, fifth and eighth grade children living in Kochi prefecture, Japan (N=9653). We calculated parental social network diversity by counting the number of people with whom parents connected on a daily basis (ie, structural social network diversity) and by assessing perceived psychosocial support (ie, functional social network diversity).Primary outcome measuresChild behaviour problems and resilience were respectively assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Child’s Resilient Coping Scale (CRCS), as rated by caregivers.ResultsDiversity in parental structural and functional social networks showed an inverse association with SDQ total difficulties score (B=−0.16 (95% CI −0.25 to −0.07) and −0.20 (95% CI −0.27 to −0.13), respectively), and a positive association with prosocial behaviour score (B=0.11 (95% CI 0.08 to 0.15) and 0.09 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.12), respectively) and CRCS score (B=0.75 (95% CI 0.46 to 1.05) and 1.12 (95% CI 0.88 to 1.35), respectively) in the adjusted model. Parental mental health accounted for 36% and 43% of the total effects of structural and functional social network diversity respectively on the total difficulties score. For prosocial behaviour score, parental involvement accounted for 31% of the effects of functional social network diversity.ConclusionThe results shed light on new strategies to enhance child mental health that do not directly involve children but rather focus on parental social networking.

Neighbourhood characteristics and socioeconomic inequalities in child mental health: cross-sectional and longitudinal findings from the Growing Up in Ireland Study

“…Caregivers who perceive their neighbourhoods as more cohesive may be more likely to allow their older children to engage in less supervised mobile trips that can have benefits on children's health and well-being (Lin et al, 2017). In addition, neighbourhood social interactions (e.g., higher social support, networks, and interactions) reported by caregivers have been found to be associated with better child mental health through improving caregivers' mental health and their relationships with children (Koyama et al, 2020;Yan et al, 2023).…”

Child Mental Health and Sleep Disturbances During the Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States

“…For example, support systems can help buffer children from the impact of a negative event and provide a safe recovery environment through the provision of emotional and concrete support 17. A study of parental social networks found that parents with more social network members who could provide support were associated with reduced child behavior problems and increased prosocial behaviors 18. However, unlike other disasters, pandemics uniquely affect social interactions by demanding isolation and quarantine rather than the typical mobilization of social support, which involves convergence and gathering 19.…”

“…17 A study of parental social networks found that parents with more social network members who could provide support were associated with reduced child behavior problems and increased prosocial behaviors. 18 However, unlike other disasters, pandemics uniquely affect social interactions by demanding isolation and quarantine rather than the typical mobilization of social support, which involves convergence and gathering. 19 These social distancing demands can impact child resilience and recovery by inhibiting peer and community support.…”