Parenting Stress Trajectories in Parents of Children with Congenital Heart Disease

Abstract

Objectives: This study examines parenting stress trajectories in parents of children with congenital heart disease from 4 to 60 months and identifies predictors.

Methods: Sixty-six parents completed the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-4-SF) at 4, 24, and 60 months of child's age. The PSI-4-SF provides a score on three dimensions of parenting stress: parental distress (PD), difficult child (DC), and parent-child dysfunctional interactions (PCDI). Multilevel growth curves were modeled to characterize the intraindividual evolution of parenting stress during early childhood.

Results: PD and DC fluctuated, while PCDI decreased over time. Lower birthweight predicted higher DC at 4 months, and longer hospitalization after the first surgery predicted higher PCDI at 4 months. No predictor influenced PD.

Conclusions: Parents with high PD and DC tend to remain highly stressed, highlighting the importance of early screening. Identifying predictors of specific stress dimensions can help professionals support at-risk families.

Keywords: Parenting stress; child development; congenital heart disease.