Minor Parenting Stresses with Young Children

TLDR

Minor parenting stresses can influence microsocial processes in parent‑child relationships and contribute to dysfunction in children and families. The study aimed to determine the relative and absolute contributions of life stress and daily hassles to parental, child, and family functioning. Researchers surveyed 74 mother–child pairs on stressors, parenting, psychological status, social support, family functioning, and child behavior, and observed their interactions in a laboratory setting. Analyses showed that both life stress and daily hassles predicted child, parent, and family outcomes, with daily hassles having a stronger effect, and maternal social support moderated the impact of hassles on maternal behavior.

Abstract

The importance of major life stress and minor daily hassles associated with parenting was studied in 74 mothers and their 5-year-old children. Of interest were the relative and absolute contributions of the stress factors to indices of parental, child, and family functioning. Mothers completed questionnaires regarding stressors, aspects of parenting and individual psychological status, social support, family functioning, and child behavioral status. Mother-child pairs were also observed in interactions in a laboratory setting. Analyses indicated that life stress and parenting daily hassles significantly predicted aspects of child, parent, and family status. Hassles, however, proved to be a more powerful stress construct. Further analyses indicated that mothers' social support moderated the influence of hassles on indices of maternal behavior. The results are discussed in relation to the potential for minor parenting stresses to influence microsocial processes within parent-child relationships and contribute to dysfunction in children and families.