Integrative review of parenting in nursing research.
OBJECTIVE
To synthesize and critically analyze parenting research in nursing.


METHODS
Qualitative, integrative review of nursing research studies about parenting 1993-2004.


METHODS
Studies published by nurse researchers in peer-reviewed journals were systematically searched using CINAHL and Medline databases. Data were organized and analyzed with a sample of 17 nursing research studies from core nursing journals.


RESULTS
The majority of parenting research has been focused on mothers, primarily about parenting children with physical or developmental disabilities. Research about fathers as parents is sparse. Parenting across cultures, parenting in the context of family, and theoretical frameworks for parenting research are not well developed.


CONCLUSIONS
The scope of nursing research on parenting is limited. The roles, functions, and contexts of parenting are not well defined. Further research is required to describe parenting and how parenting affects the health of individuals and families.
Faculty of Health and Sciences, School of Nursing, Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, Christchurch, New Zealand. gagej@cpit.ac.nz
Jeffrey D
JD
Gage
Kevin D
KD
Everett
Linda
L
Bullock
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000451:nursing; D005192:Family Health; D022143:Family Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006803:Human Development; D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009742:Nursing Theory; D016487:Parenting / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012107:Research Design; D012380:Role; D020377:Self Efficacy