Parenting Stress Trajectories in Parents of Children with Congenital Heart Disease.

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.