Variables that Impact Stress of Parents of Adolescents with Emotional and Behavioral Problems
摘要
Parental stress is a well-documented phenomenon. The relationships between parental stress, parent–child dynamics, and child outcomes are complex and bidirectional. Although this intricate interaction is well recognized, we specifically examined the impact of child-related variables on parental stress. Although many child factors can contribute to parent stress, the literature is mixed regarding the role of such variables. We examined the role of adolescent and school demographics, school performance, and mental health ratings as predictors of three parent stress domains (adolescent, parent, adolescent–parent relationship). Participants were 625 parents of adolescents with emotional and behavioral problems. Results from multilevel modeling indicated externalizing and internalizing adolescent behaviors predicted parent stress across all three domains. In addition, higher student adaptive behavior was associated with reduced parent stress. Although inconsistent across domains, other predictors included race, student report of depression and anxiety, and socioeconomic status.