Laboratory of Child Health and Development Epidemiology, Department of Medical Epidemiology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, Milan, 20156, Italy.
BMC Psychol. 2024 Oct 31;12(1):611. doi: 10.1186/s40359-024-02137-2.
This study compared parental distress in 166 couples, using the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF), in the Italian NASCITA cohort at the two-year well-child visits. The study explored the concordance of distress levels within couples (aim 1) and their correlation with child-related stressors (aim 2).
Previous studies focused on maternal distress or considered maternal and paternal experiences separately, without addressing differences within couples.
Data on parental distress were collected from the PSI-SF completed separately by parents. The total score was derived from three subscales, with high distress defined by a score above 85. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test compared the total PSI-SF scores of mothers and fathers. The prevalence of high distress was assessed using chi-square tests, and concordance between parents within the same couple was estimated using Cohen's K statistic. Chi-square tests were also used to compare distress levels in parents exposed to potential child-related stressors versus those not exposed.
A slightly higher total score (z = -2.45; p = 0.01) was observed in mothers versus fathers, although the prevalence of distress was similar (15.1% vs. 13.9%, respectively; p = 0.76). Nine children (5.4%) had both parents distressed. Agreement in the high level of distress was observed for 81.9% of the couples, with a fair agreement on the total score (Cohen's K = 0.27).The percentage of children with both distressed parents was slightly higher in the group exposed to potential stressors (6.6% vs. 4%, p = 0.49).
It is essential to evaluate distress in parents exposed to potential stressors related to child characteristics early. This assessment should be part of the pediatric family practice to prevent adverse outcomes in both child and parental wellbeing.
本研究使用父母压力指数-短式量表（PSI-SF）比较了意大利 NASCITA 队列中 166 对夫妇在两年期健康儿童就诊时的父母压力。该研究探讨了夫妇内压力水平的一致性（目标 1）及其与儿童相关压力源的相关性（目标 2）。
先前的研究侧重于母亲的压力或分别考虑母亲和父亲的经历，而没有解决夫妇内的差异。
从父母单独完成的 PSI-SF 中收集父母压力数据。总分来自三个分量表，得分高于 85 分表示存在高度压力。采用 Wilcoxon 符号秩检验比较母亲和父亲的 PSI-SF 总分。采用卡方检验评估高压力的患病率，并采用 Cohen's K 统计量估计同一对夫妇内父母之间的一致性。采用卡方检验比较暴露于潜在儿童相关压力源的父母和未暴露于压力源的父母的压力水平。
母亲的总分略高（z=-2.45;p=0.01），尽管压力患病率相似（分别为 15.1%和 13.9%；p=0.76）。9 名儿童（5.4%）的父母均有压力。81.9%的夫妇观察到高度压力的一致性，总得分的一致性适度（Cohen's K=0.27）。暴露于潜在压力源的组中，有压力的父母的孩子比例略高（6.6%比 4%；p=0.49）。
早期评估与儿童特征相关的潜在压力源下父母的压力至关重要。这种评估应该成为儿科家庭实践的一部分，以预防儿童和父母幸福感的不良后果。
