A Causal Model of Parenting Stress Among First-Time Adolescent Mothers

Authors

  • Kingfa Sanglee RN, PhD candidate, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand.
  • Linchong Pothiban RN, DSN. Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand.
  • Sujitra Tiansawad RN, DSN. Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand.
  • Chavee Baosoung RN, PhD. Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand.
  • Darawan Thapinta RN, PhD. Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand.

Keywords:

Adolescent Mothers, Causal Model, Parenting, Parenting Role, Parenting Stress

Abstract

                  Parenting stress affects maternal function and psychological health and development of their child. To prevent or minimize stress among adolescent mothers, understanding how various factors work to influence stress is necessary. Thus, this study aimed to develop and test a causal model of parenting stress in first-time adolescent mothers. A total of 253 first-time postpartum adolescent mothers accessing health services for checking up were recruited from nine hospitals in a northern province in Thailand. Nine instruments were used to collect data: the Parental Distress Subscale of the Parenting Stress Index/Short Form, the Modified Knowledge of Child Development Inventory, the Self-Perception of the Parenting Role Scale, the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale, the Revised Thai Multi-dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Family Economic Strain Scale, the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale, the Child-rearing Conflict Measure, and the What My Baby is Like Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s product moment correlation, and path analysis with LISREL.

                The causal model of parenting stress obtained the best fit with the data. This model could explain 75% of the total variance in parenting stress. Social support, parenting attitude and self-efficacy, and child temperament influenced parenting stress directly. Social support, marital satisfaction, economic strain, child-rearing conflict, and parenting knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy also indirectly influenced parenting stress. Nurses should design the program for preventing parenting stress in first-time adolescent mothers by emphasis on promoting positive parenting attitude and perceiving adapted child temperament, enhancing parenting self-efficacy and social support.

References

1. World Health Organization. Global health observatory (GHO) data [cited 2018 August 15]. Available from https://www.who.int/gho/maternal_health/reproductive_ health/ adolescent_fertility/en/

2. Department of Health. Department of health annual report 2017 [Internet] Bangkok: Graphic Design Press [2018 Feb] [cited 2018 August 15]. Available from https:// planning.anamai.moph.go.th/download/D_report_year/ Report_DoH61.pdf

3. Bureau of Reproductive Health. Act for prevention and solution of the adolescent pregnancy problem, B.E. 2559 (2016). [2016] [cited 2017 December 15]. Available from https:// rh.anamai.moph.go.th/download/all_file/index/Teen% 20Pregnancy%20Act%20Certified%20Version%20(1).pdf

4. Wakschlag LS, Hans SL. Early parenthood in context: Implications for development and intervention. In Zeanah CH. Handbook of infant mental health. 2nd ed. New York: The Guilford Press Publishers; 2000, pp. 129-144.

5. Bailey NS. Perceived social support and cognitive readiness to parent as predictors of attachment, parenting style, and parenting stress: A comparative study of adult and adolescent mothers [dissertation]. [New York]: Pace Univ.; 2014. 67p.

6. Abidin RR. The determinants of parenting behaviors. J Clin Child Psychol. 1992 21(4): 407–412.

7. Calkin SD, Hungerford A, Dedmon SE. Mothers’ interactions with temperamentally frustrated infants. Infant Ment. Health J. 2004 25(3): 219-239.

8. Mercer RT. Becoming a mother versus maternal role attainment. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2004 36(3): 226-232.

9. Smith TK. The relationship between knowledge, attributions and behavior in adolescent mothers: Implications for child outcomes. Santa Barbara: University of California; 2001. 242p.

10. Venkatesh KK, Phipps MG, Triche EW, Zlotnick C. The Relationship between parental stress and postpartum depression among adolescent mothers enrolled in a randomized controlled prevention trial. Matern Child Health J. 2014 18(6): 1532–1539.

11. Abidin RR. Parenting stress index, third edition: Professional manual psychological assessment resources [1995] [cited 2015 March 20]. Available from https://www.research connections.org/childcare/resources/298

12. Belsky J. The determinants of parenting: A process model. Child Dev. 1984 55(1): 83-96.

13. Chang Y, Fine M A. Modeling parenting stress trajectories among low-income young mothers across the child’s second and third years: Factors accounting for stability and change. J. Fam. Psychol. 2007 21(4): 584-594.

14. Rafferty Y, Griffin KW, Lodise M. Adolescent motherhood and developmental outcomes of children in early head start: The influence of maternal parenting behaviors, well-being, and risk factors within the family setting. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2011 81(2): 228-245.

15. MacPhee D. Knowledge of infant development inventory. Unpublished manual and questionnaire. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina; 1981. 15p.

16. Huang K, Teti D, Caughly M, Feldstein S, Genevro J. Mother-child conflict interaction in the toddler years: Behavior patterns and correlates. J Child Fam Stud. 2007 16(2): 219–241.

17. Holden GW, Buck MJ. Parental attitudes toward childrearing. In Bornstein MH. Handbook of parenting, Vol. 3: Being and becoming a parent. 3nd ed. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers; 2012, pp. 537-562.

18. Charoensatsiri R, Chaimongkol N, Pongjaturawit Y. Factors predicting parenting stress in adolescent mothers of firstborn infants. J Prapokklao Hosp Clin Med Educat Center. 2014 31(2): 105-113.

19. Zimet GD, Dahlem NW, Zimet SG, Farley GK. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. J. Pers. Assess. 1988 52(1): 30-41.

20. Rhodes JE, Woods M. Comfort and conflict in the relationships of pregnant, minority adolescents: Social support as a moderator of social strain. J Community Psychol. 1995 23(1): 74-84.

21. Dukewich TL, Borkowski JG, Whitman, TL. Adolescent mothers and child abuse potential: An evaluation of risk factors. Child Abuse Negl. 1996 20(11): 1031-1047.

22. Wacharasin C, Thienpichet S, Deoisres W. Predicting maternal stress of mothers having children age 0-3 years. The Public Health Journal of Burapha University. 2011 6(1): 32-41 [in Thai].

23. Hendrick SS, Hendrick C. Love and satisfaction. In Sternberg RL, Hojjat M. Satisfaction in close relationships. New York: Guilford; 1997, pp. 56-78.

24. Larson NC. Parenting stress among adolescent mothers in the transition to adulthood. Child Adolesc Social Work J. 2004 21(5): 457-476.

25. Hilton JM, Devall EL. The family economic strain scale: Development and evaluation of the instrument with singleand two-parent families. J Fam Econ Issues. 1997 18(3): 247-271.

26. Spencer MS, Kalil A, Larson NC, Spieker SJ, Gilchrist LD. Multigenerational co-residence and childrearing conflict: Links to parenting stress in teenage mothers across the first two years postpartum. Appl. Dev. Sci. 2002 6(3), 157-170.

27. Chess S, Thomas A. Origins and evolution of behavior disorders. New York: Brunner; 1984.

28. Manachevahul S, Prasopkittikun T, Sangperm P. Factors predicting parenting stress in mothers of infants. Journal of Nurses’ Association of Thailand, North-Division. 2012 30(1): 53-62 [in Thai].

29. Pui-Wa, L, Qiong W. Introduction to structural equation modeling: Issues and practical considerations. Educ. Meas. 2007 26(3): 33-43.

30. Son, J. Back translation as a documentation tool. Transl. Interpret. 2018 10(2): 89-100.

31. MacPhee D, Benson JB, Bullock D. Influences on maternal self -perceptions. Unpublished manuscript. Colorado State Univ.; 1986.

32. Johnston C, Mash E J. A measure of parenting satisfaction and efficacy. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 1989 18(2): 167–175.

33. Soomlek S. A Causal model of maternal role mastery among first-time mother [dissertation]. [Bangkok]: Mahidol Univ.; 1995. 125p.

34. Wongpakaran N, Wongpakaran, T. A revised Thai multidimensional scale of perceived social support. Span J Psychol. 2012 15(3): 1503-1509.

35. Schumm WR, Scanlon, ED, Crow CL, Green DN, Buckler DL. Characteristics of the Kansas marital satisfaction scale in a sample of 79 married couples. Psychol. Rep. 1983 53(2): 583-588.

36. Boonate N. (2014). Factors predicting occurrence of intimate partner violence during pregnancy among Thai pregnancy women [dissertation]. [Chiang Mai]: Chiang Mai Univ.; 2014. 122p.

37. Pridham KF, Chang AS, Chiu Y. Maternal parenting selfappraisals: The contribution of perceived infant temperament. Res Nurs Health. 1994 17(5): 381-392.

38. Phumonsakul S. (2000). A structural equation model of maternal role attainment among working primiparous mothers [dissertation]. [Bangkok]: Mahidol Univ.; 2000. 224p.

39. Younger, J.B. (1991). A model of parenting stress. Res Nurs Health, 14:197-204.

40. Ostberg, M., & Hagekull, B. (2000). A structural modeling approach to the understanding of parenting stress. J. Clin. Child Psychol, 29(4), 615-625.

Downloads

Published

2019-09-16

How to Cite

1.
Sanglee K, Pothiban L, Tiansawad S, Baosoung C, Thapinta D. A Causal Model of Parenting Stress Among First-Time Adolescent Mothers. PRIJNR [Internet]. 2019 Sep. 16 [cited 2024 Dec. 4];23(4):414-27. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/PRIJNR/article/view/157690