Skip to main content

Relationships Between Stressors and Parenting Attitudes in a Child Welfare Parenting Program

Journal of Child and Family Studies volume 22, pages 199–208 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Families involved with child welfare services often experience a range of stressors in addition to maltreatment, including intimate partner violence, substance abuse, and mental health problems. Children in these families are at risk for developing a myriad of problems. Although parenting education programs are among the most routine interventions for families involved with child welfare services, there is relatively little data available about these programs for families with multiple stressors. This study sought to explore the family stressors in parents involved in the child welfare system who have been referred to an intensive therapeutic parenting program, and the relationship of those stressors to change in parenting attitudes. Quantitative abstraction of parenting program files was conducted. Analyses included descriptive and bivariate statistics, and related samples t tests to examine change in parenting attitudes. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a sub-sample of this population. File abstraction revealed that parents in this population experiencing multiple co-occurring stressors ranged from 23 to 39%. Significant improvements in parenting attitudes were found for most groups of participants, including those with violence, mental health, and substance abuse problems. Qualitative interviews indicated that parents felt that they were learning from the parenting program and were supported by the facilitators. Parents facing multiple stressors are unlikely to be able to parent effectively, and may need significant support and intervention. Additional understanding of the types of issues they face and whether particular interventions are effective for those groups would allow for the development of more targeted interventions.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Anda, R. F., Felitti, V. J., Bremner, J. D., Walker, J. D., Whitfield, C., Perry, B. D., et al. (2006). The enduring effects of abuse and related adverse experiences in childhood. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 256, 174–186.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Appleyard, K., Egeland, B., van Dulmen, M., & Sroufe, L. A. (2005). When more is not better: The role of cumulative risk factors in child behavior outcomes. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46(3), 235–245.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baer, J. C., & Martinez, C. D. (2006). Child maltreatment and insecure attachment: A meta-analysis. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 24(3), 187–197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barth, R. P. (2009). Preventing child abuse and neglect with parent training: Evidence and opportunities. The Future of Children, 19(2), 95–118.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barth, R. P., Landsverk, J., Chamberlain, P., Reid, J. B., Rolls, J. A., Hurlburt, M. S., et al. (2005). Parent-training programs in child welfare services: Planning for a more evidence-based approach to serving biological parents. Research on Social Work Practice, 15, 353–371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bavolek, S. J., & Keene, R. G. (1999). Adult-adolescent parenting inventory (AAPI-2): Administration and development handbook. Park City, UT: Family Development Resources, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beckman, K. A., Knitzer, J., Cooper, J., & Dicker, S. (2010). Supporting parents of young children in the child welfare system. National Center for Children in Poverty, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University.

  • English, D. J., Edleson, J. L., & Herrick, M. E. (2005). Domestic violence in one state’s child protective caseload: A study of differential case dispositions and outcomes. Children and Youth Services Review, 27, 1183–1201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • English, D. J., Graham, J. C., Newton, R. R., Lewis, T. L., Thompson, R., Kotch, J. B., et al. (2009). At- risk and maltreated children exposed to intimate partner aggression/violence: What the conflict looks like and its relationship to child outcomes. Child Maltreatment, 14(2), 157–171.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herrenkohl, T. I., & Herrenkohl, R. C. (2007). Examining the overlap and prediction of multiple forms of child maltreatment, stressors, and socioeconomic status: A longitudinal analysis of youth outcomes. Journal of Family Violence, 22, 553–562.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herrenkohl, T. I., Sousa, C., Tajima, E. A., Herrenkohl, R. C., & Moylan, C. (2008). Intersection of child abuse and children’s exposure to domestic violence. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 9(2), 84–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodnett, R. H., Faulk, K., Delinger, A., & Maher, E. (2009). Evaluation of a statewide implementation of a parenting education program in Louisiana’s child welfare agency: The Nurturing Parenting Program for infants, toddlers, and pre-school children. Seattle, WA: Casey Family Programs.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohl, P. L., Barth, R. P., Hazen, A. L., & Landsverk, J. A. (2005a). Child welfare as a gateway to domestic violence services. Children and Youth Services Review, 27, 1203–1221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kohl, P. L., Edleson, J. L., English, D. J., & Barth, R. P. (2005b). Domestic violence and pathways into child welfare services: Findings from the National survey of child and adolescent well-being. Children and Youth Services Review, 27, 1167–1182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Margolin, G., & Gordis, E. B. (2000). The effects of family and community violence on children. Annual Review of Psychology, 51, 445–479.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marsh, J., Ryan, J., Choi, S., & Testa, M. (2006). Integrated services for families with multiple problems: Obstacles to family reunification. Children and Youth Services Review, 28(9), 1074–1087.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marsh, J. C., Smith, B. D., & Bruni, M. (2011). Integrated substance abuse and mental health services for women: A progress review. Children and Youth Services Review, 33, 466–472.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morton, N., & Browne, K. D. (1998). Theory and observation of attachment and its relation to child maltreatment: A review. Child Abuse and Neglect, 22(11), 1093–1104.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. (2010). Persistent fear and anxiety can affect young children’s learning and development: Working Paper No. 9. Accessed from http://www.developingchild.net.

  • Neuman, W. L. (2003). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osofsky, J. D. (2003). Prevalence of children’s exposure to domestic violence and child maltreatment: Implications for prevention and intervention. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 6(3), 161–170.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sameroff, A. J. (2000). Dialectical processes in developmental psychology. In A. Sameroff, M. Lewis, & S. Miller (Eds.), Handbook of developmental psychopathology (2nd ed., pp. 23–40). New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • US Department of Health and Human Services. (1999). Blending perspectives and building common ground: A report to Congress on substance abuse and child protection. Accessible from: http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/subabuse99/subabuse.htm.

  • US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, Children’s Bureau. (2010a). Child maltreatment 2009. Accessible from: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/index.htm#can.

  • US Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices. (2010b). Nurturing parenting programs. Accessed from http://nrepp.samhsa.gov/ViewIntervention.aspx?id=171.

  • Wekerle, C., Wall, A.-M., Leung, E., & Trocme, N. (2007). Cumulative stress and substantiated maltreatment: The importance of caregiver vulnerability and adult partner violence. Child Abuse and Neglect, 31, 427–443.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA

    Lianne Fuino Estefan, Martha L. Coulter & Carla L. VandeWeerd

  2. College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Mary Armstrong

  3. The Children’s Trust, Miami, FL, USA

    Peter Gorski

Authors
  1. Lianne Fuino Estefan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Martha L. Coulter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Carla L. VandeWeerd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mary Armstrong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Peter Gorski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lianne Fuino Estefan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Estefan, L.F., Coulter, M.L., VandeWeerd, C.L. et al. Relationships Between Stressors and Parenting Attitudes in a Child Welfare Parenting Program. J Child Fam Stud 22, 199–208 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-012-9569-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-012-9569-1

Keywords

  • Child maltreatment
  • Parenting program
  • Parenting attitudes
  • Child welfare
  • Mixed methods