Poster #92 - The Association of Parent Mental Health and Use of Negative Discipline Strategies

• In Event: Poster Session 01

Abstract

Objective: In developed countries, mental health diseases account for four of the top ten disabling diseases (WHO, 2022). Parents with mental health problems appear to be overwhelmed in parenting (Freisthler et al., 2022). Research has reported the mediating effect of parenting (i.e. authoritative, punitive, uninvolved) on parent mental health and child outcomes (Leinonen et al., 2003). Negative or harsh parenting practices have been found to predict negative child mental health outcomes, while positive parenting has been linked to less child depression and aggression (Smokowski et al., 2014). Some evidence suggests a link between parental stress and depression spanking in the first 6 years (Chung et al., 2021). However, less is known about the relationship between parents' perceived wellbeing and specific negative parenting practices. The current study investigates how specific parental disciplinary practices are associated with parents' mental health and wellbeing to provide more targeted recommendations for future parenting intervention.

Methods: This study includes 43 families from Southern California with children in Transitional Kindergarten (Hispanic/Latino 54.2%, IEP 13.6%, English as the first Language 77.1%).Parent mental health and parent use of disciplinary behaviors were measured in a survey asking parents to rate the frequency of a feeling or use of a parenting practice over the past week. Parent mental health was measured using a scale developed by the authors. There are six items rated on a Likert scale from 1 (none of the time) to 6 (all of the time) for parents' self-reported mental health asking how frequently parents feel: 1) nervous; 2) calm and peaceful; 3) down and blue; 4) down in dumps; 5) feeling happy; 6) frustrated with children. The parent use of disciplinary behaviors survey was derived from the Parent Reported Discipline Practices scale (Regalado et al., 2004). Items asking about the use of different parenting practices were scored on a Likert scale from 1 (never) to (often), for: 1) spanking; 2) yelling; 3) time-out; 4) taking away toys; 5) explaining.

Results: Pearson correlation indicates that parents’ perception of calmness and peacefulness were negatively associated with the discipline of taking away toys (see Table 1). Parents’ perceptions of feeling down-hearted and blue were positively correlated with both the use of time-out and taking away toys. Parents’ perceptions of feeling down in the dumps were positively correlated with the use of time-out. Parents’ perceptions of happiness were negatively associated with the use of spanking.

Discussion: Findings from the current study validate the past researches that parent mental health is associated with parenting practices. Results of the current study revealed that parents experiencing mental health problem were more likely to use the negative discipline such as time-out and taking away toys. Parents who felt happy and peaceful were more likely to avoid adopting negative practices, such as taking away toys and spanking. Future interventions may focus more on providing them with targeted techniques on how to manage and reduce mental health disruptions that could shape their use of parental discipline. Simultaneously, parents should be trained to be able to better identify negative parenting practices.

Authors

• Huilin Li, University of California - San Diego
  Presenting Author

• Alison Wishard Guerra, University of California - San Diego

• Shana R Cohen, University of California, San Diego

• Monica Molgaard, University of California - San Diego

• Yan Jiang, University of California - San Diego

• Rogelio Becerra Songolo, University of California - San Diego