Key Messages Although the substantial increase in data visualization tools on child health and well-being has made data more accessible and facilitated evidence-based decision-making, the increase has contributed to confusion over which tools to use for specific purposes and how they complement each other. We summarize the events that triggered increased production of data visualization tools on child health and well-being, discuss the benefits and challenges resulting from this increase, and propose principles for producing future tools, with an emphasis on tools for global monitoring, so that they most effectively spark action and accountability for children. The 6 principles include: (1) cocreate data visualization tools across organizations; (2) align donors on requests for new child health data visualization tools; (3) define the purpose, target audience, and added value of new tools at the outset; (4) develop tools through inclusive engagement of all key stakeholders; (5) identify a lead institution or individual to manage iterations of the tool and build consensus; and (6) select indicators that adhere to standard definitions, recommended data sources, and are available through existing data collection platforms.
Jennifer Harris Requejo, Kathleen Strong, Frances E. Aboud et al.
Middle-aged adults often have relationships with multiple family members (e.g., children and parents). The constellation of parent-child relationships within families may have implications for individuals' psychological well-being. This study created typologies of parent-child ties by combining multiple dimensions of relationships and examined the extent to which middle-aged adults showed variability across typologies of parent-child ties within multigenerational families. Using 2,252 parent-child ties across three generations from 633 middle-aged adults, this study identified typologies of parent-child ties based on 5 indicators (i.e., contact, downward and upward support, and positive and negative relationship qualities), and examined the associations of specific typologies of parent-child ties as well as within-family variability in typologies with middle-aged adults' psychological well-being. This study found 7 types of parent-child ties as distinct combinations of contact, support exchanges, and relationship quality. Within-family variability in these types was associated with more depressive symptoms, and having types characterized by conflicted ties was associated with more depressive symptoms and lower life satisfaction. Middle-aged adults seem to be happiest when they are able to maintain homogeneous, harmonious patterns of relationships with their parents and grown children. Findings were discussed with regard to factors that also may predict greater variability in family relationship patterns. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Kyungmin Kim, Kira S. Birditt, Steven Howard Zarit et al.
Objective To explore the direct and indirect associations among GenerationPMTO (i.e., the “Oregon model” of a parent management training program), child behavior problems, and parent outcomes. Background The behavioral parent training program GenerationPMTO is designed to improve child behavior outcomes. Although parent well‐being is not targeted, previous studies have found collateral benefits on parental well‐being for GenerationPMTO in preventive low‐risk samples and high‐risk samples. Method Bootstrapped structured equation models were used to analyze 2 randomized trials that evaluate parent well‐being (mental health, somatic health, and vitality) in 2 versions of GenerationPMTO: Brief Parent Training (BPT) for a preventive sample (N = 216) and GenerationPMTO, which was higher‐risk and a mix of a clinical and a preventive sample (N = 137). We examined direct and indirect effects of treatment condition for parent well‐being via change in children's behavior problems, change in parenting practices, and level of parenting self‐efficacy. Results Six months after treatment, results revealed positive effects on targeted child and parent outcomes in both samples, whereas only the BPT intervention had direct effects on parent well‐being. Conclusion Collateral benefits in the low‐risk BPT sample suggest that helping children and their families at earlier stages of negative development may increase the potential for immediate collateral benefits. Implications The results highlight the preventive potential of a brief behavioral parent training intervention based on the social interaction learning model.
Abstract Background Children with learning and behavioral difficulties are at increased risk of emotional distress and unintentional injuries, particularly when support systems are lacking. This study evaluates the long-term impact of the Hellenic Mediterranean University’s Mobile Learning Difficulties Assessment and Support Unit on family well-being, child behavior, and access to services in underserved areas. This research was funded by the Region of Crete (MIS 5162111). Methods The study utilized a quasi-experimental design with both an intervention and control group. A total of 204 parents participated in the research, divided into two main groups: those who received counseling and psychoeducational services through the HMU Mobile Learning Difficulties Assessment and Support Unit, and a matched control group who did not receive such intervention. Standardized psychometric tools were used (e.g. Beck Anxiety Inventory, Child Behavior Checklist). Results Through a controlled, pre- and post-intervention comparison of parental and child outcomes, the research identified key improvements in mental health and behavior. Children in the intervention group showed significant reductions in anxiety symptoms (p = 0.0001), ADHD-related behaviors (p = 0.048), oppositional tendencies (p = 0.007), and conduct-related issues (p = 0.010). These improvements suggest a potential for decreased risk of unintentional harm and enhanced safety in daily activities. Parents also demonstrated a shift toward more supportive caregiving styles and reported increased life satisfaction (p = 0.049), reinforcing the value of psychoeducation and early intervention in preventing long-term psychosocial harm. Conclusions The success of this mobile intervention highlights the urgent need to expand such models to more regions, helping to reduce health disparities and promote safe, nurturing environments for vulnerable children and families. Key messages • Mobile support services improve child behavior and reduce emotional risks linked to injury. • Family-focused interventions foster safer, more supportive environments for vulnerable children. Topic Child behavior, injury prevention, mobile mental health.
Objective: The goal was to examine father's perspectives of family meals and their role during the meal. Background: Family meals are protective for child health. However, little is known about influential factors that can ensure family meal occurrence. Parents are one such influential factor for family meal occurrence. Mothers' perspectives and family meals have been well researched, but fathers' have not. Method: = 13) from different cultural backgrounds (i.e., Asian, Black, mixed, White) in two-parent households participated in a qualitative interview. A hybrid deductive and inductive qualitative approach was used in analysis. Results: Eleven main themes were found from three research questions: (a) What purpose(s) do family meals serve in your family? (b) What is the role of fathers regarding parenting practices at family meals? and (c) What are barriers and facilitators of family meals? Conclusion: Findings about the purpose of family meals suggested family meals were passed on intergenerationally, created an environment for connection and trust, taught important life lessons and skills, and provided routines and rituals for families. Findings related to fathers' roles showed that fathers had family meal rules and engaged in food parenting practices during the meals. Findings related to barriers and facilitators of family meals included busy schedules and picky eating as barriers; facilitators included reducing other obligations, involving the family, and being creative. Implications or Recommendations: Engaging fathers in developing family meal interventions may be beneficial for child health and to lay a foundation for health across the life course.
Jerica M. Berge, Khadija Mohamed, Saltanat Childress et al.
Maternal depression is associated with negative outcomes in children, with less known about physical health outcomes. Poor child physical health is a robust predictor of negative outcomes across the life course. Thus, authors examined the association between maternal depression and child physical well-being, accounting for multiple risk and protective factors. Data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 2,965) were used to examine the association between three indicators of child physical well-being (overall health status, overweight, and asthma) and maternal depression at the nine-year follow-up, controlling for child-, maternal-, and family-level risk and protective factors. Unadjusted regression analyses revealed that maternal depression was associated with increased rates of poor overall health, overweight, and asthma. When adjusting for parenting stress and competence, maternal depression was no longer a significant risk factor for overall poor health; when controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, it was no longer a risk factor for asthma. After adjusting for multiple factors, maternal depression remained a significant risk factor for childhood overweight. Findings highlight the importance of reducing perceived parenting stress and increasing competence for depressed mothers and suggest that more research is needed to examine pathways through which maternal depression may lead to childhood overweight.
This study examines the role of school leadership in promoting child safety and well-being in a public basic education school in Dumaguete City, Philippines. Anchored in an integrated leadership–school climate–child safety and well-being framework, it adopts a quantitative, descriptive-correlational, cross-sectional design. A structured questionnaire is intended for 79 teachers from a population of 98 to assess school leadership practices and teachers’ perceptions of child safety and well-being. Using a synthetic dataset for illustration, the analysis demonstrated favorable leadership assessments, with safe and inclusive school climate obtaining the highest mean (M = 4.39). Supportive relationships and school belonging received the highest perceived well-being rating (M = 4.34). The results showed a strong positive relationship between school leadership and perceived child safety and well-being (r = .773, p < .001). Multiple regression explained 67.3% of the variation in outcome scores, with safe and inclusive school climate, bullying and violence prevention, and mental-health and psychosocial support emerging as significant predictors. These findings demonstrate the potential relevance of coordinated leadership practices but do not establish the actual conditions of the participating school. The study recommends strengthening learner participation, reporting mechanisms, psychosocial assistance, and continuous monitoring. It supports SDG 4 on Quality Education, SDG 3 on Good Health and Well-Being, and SDG 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. Its potential sustainability impact lies in strengthening institutional child-protection systems, educational continuity, school governance, and community partnerships to sustain safe and supportive learning environments.
A focus on child and youth well-being is an essential part of every society.Child and youth well-being are a complex set of trajectories, revealing the prospects of opportunities for young people.Challenges in any one of these trajectories can be threats to an individual's success in life.That makes it an important topic that directly affects young people's quality of life.During the COVID-19 pandemic situation, all learners have faced closed schools and have been forcedto study online-transitioning from the school classroom to online learning.A significant problem is also deficits in online education participation, especially from children from the most vulnerable families, which could widen the education gap and inequalities.It can potentially pose a risk for children dropping out of the education system.Lack or low level of education is a prerequisite for unemployment and poverty, increased risk of marginalization, and social exclusion.Also, thousands of young people lost their internships and jobs.The special issue on the "Trajectories of Child and Youth Well-being: Challenges and Perspectives" on the bilingual Journal "Postmodernism problems" represents some of the possible key points related to children and young people's needs and well-being.Gabriela Neagu, Vladislava Lendzhova and Dilyana Keranova focus on the question of young people who fall into the category NEETs ((Not in Education, Employment or Training).The essence, challenges and changes that occur in modern Bulgarian families are discussed by Todorka Kineva in her article "Problems and Challenges to the Modern Bulgarian Family with Children".Lucien Peters' article "The role of space in the creation of the social capital of Sofia students before the novel coronavirus pandemic", reveals the importance of social capital for young people and its impact on their well-being."Family Support in the Republic of North Macedonia" by Irena Avirovic Bundalevska, Makedonka Radulovic and Angelka Keskinova focuses on aspects of family support in the Republic of North Macedonia, based on an in-depth analysis of the legal framework of family policies in the country, and identifies practices of organizations working in the field.In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mihaela Racheva addresses the issue of "Media and Communication Strategies Supporting Parents and Children in the COVID-19 Pandemic Environment".Particular emphasis is placed on the importance of supporting parents in the fight against childhood obesity in Bulgaria.Asya Asenova-Todorova in "Aspects of Communication Behavior: Medical Institutions and Public Interest" draws our attention to another aspect related to healthcare.In the context of physical and emotional health, she raises the issue of crisis communication management in the context of medical institutions.
In recognition of National Child Day, November 20, 2022, a panel was convened to engage in critical conversation about work in Nova Scotia aimed at addressing child rights and well-being. The organizing committee for this event was composed of Sara Kirk and Cecilia Carrea from the Healthy Populations Institute at Dalhousie University (HPI), Kristyn Anderson, Lila Pavey and Jenna Hopson from the IWK Mental Health & Addictions, N. Leger Siritsky from Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW), and Charlene Gagnon, Manager of Advocacy Research and New Initiatives, YWCA, Halifax.
Policy Points Evidence suggests the 2021 temporary Child Tax Credit expansion reduced material hardship and improved parental mental health, but less is known about its effects on child well-being. Compared with the preexpansion period, advanced monthly payments were associated with short-term improvements in child behavioral health. However, these gains did not persist after payments ended, even with the lump-sum payment, likely reflecting stress and hardship tied to the policy's temporary nature, especially among lower-income and Black children. Policymakers may need to consider program design features, such as more frequent distribution of unconditional cash benefits, to better support child well-being. CONTEXT: In July 2021, to alleviate material hardship, Congress temporarily expanded the Child Tax Credit (CTC), one of the largest income transfer programs in the United States. Prior research has linked the expansion to improvements in material hardship, food insecurity, and parental mental health. This study is among the first to examine its association with child well-being. METHODS: We analyzed data from 1,028 children in the 2020-2021 waves of the Child Development Supplement of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, a national longitudinal data set. CTC exposure was defined based on benefit size calculated using eligibility rules. Outcomes included caregiver/self-rated child health, behavioral problems, and food security. We used individual fixed-effects models to estimate within-person changes in outcomes, comparing pre- and postexpansion periods while adjusting for time-invariant confounders. The 2021 PSID wave (November 2021-June 2022) included three CTC phases: 1) advanced monthly payments (November-December 2021), 2) expired monthly payments (January-April 2022), and 3) following the distribution of remaining lump sum (May-June 2022). Analyses were stratified by these phases to capture potential disparate impacts. We also conducted subgroup analyses by income and race/ethnicity. FINDINGS: During the monthly payment period, a $1,000 increase in CTC was associated with a 0.69-point reduction of behavioral problems in the overall sample (95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.31 to -0.067), corresponding to a 10% reduction from baseline. No associations were observed after monthly payments expired. Following the distribution of the lump sum, lower-income children had worse caregiver/self-rated health (-0.075, 95% CI: -0.14 to -0.010) and increased behavioral problems (0.95, 95% CI: 0.45-1.45) compared with higher-income children. Differences by race/ethnicity were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: More frequent distribution of unconditional cash benefits may improve child behavioral health. These findings inform ongoing state and federal poverty policymaking and contribute to theoretical knowledge on income and child health.
Guangyi Wang, Daniel F. Collin, Deborah A. Karasek et al.
