The impact of parents' stress on parents' and young childrens' mental health—Short‐ and long‐term effects of risk and resilience factors in families with children aged 0–3 in a representative sample

Abstract

Stress in parents has a significant impact on parenting and infant's development. However, few studies have examined cross‐sectional and longitudinal links on risk and resilience of burdened families. Thus, this study aimed to investigate subjective risk and resilience factors on family well‐being. Data stem from the 2015 nationwide study “Children in Germany” (“Kinder in Deutschland” – KiD 0–3). Parents of children aged zero to 3 years (N = 8.063) were recruited from random probability‐sampled paediatric clinics (n = 271) across Germany. Risk and resilience variables such as parents' perceived stress (PSS‐4), competence, isolation and attachment (PSI), as well as parental inner anger (items from CAP), relationship quality (DAS‐4) and the child's negative emotionality (items from SGKS) were assessed at baseline in addition to demographic variables to predict parents' mental health (PHQ‐4) and negative emotionality of the child at baseline (T1) and in the 2‐year follow‐up (T2) using linear regression models. At baseline, parents' mental health was predicted by inner anger, the child's negative emotionality and being a single parent (R2 = 45.1%) at baseline, but only by parenting competence at the two‐year‐follow‐up (R2 = 25.1%). The child's negative emotionality was predicted (R2 = 27.5%) by the child's age, and parental inner anger and competence, attachment, perceived stress, mental health as well as education background. At two‐year‐follow‐up, the child's age, single parenthood, social welfare benefit, child's negative emotionality at baseline, relationship quality and competence were significant predictor variables (R2 = 22.8%). This study highlights the impact of specific risk and resilience factors not only on parents' mental health but also the child's negative emotionality in the short and long‐term in early childhood. Universal, but also selective prevention programs should increase parents' resilience (e.g., focusing on self‐efficacy, competence, coping strategies).