title: U.S. Caregivers with Mental Health Problems: Parenting Experiences and Children's Functioning.
abstract: The 2007 National Survey of Children's Health was used to determine the prevalence of poor mental health among U.S. mothers, fathers, and guardians, specific parenting experiences and children's functioning. More guardians (13.7%) reported poor mental health compared to mothers (7.7%) and fathers (5.3%), generalizing to 4.6 million U.S. caregivers with poor mental health. Caregivers with poor mental health were at least 3 times more likely to report children's problematic functioning after accounting for sociodemographic factors and parenting stress and experiences. Research and clinical activities should recognize poor caregiver mental health as a condition that affects parenting and children's functioning.
authors.affiliation: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA. Electronic address: cliu@bidmc.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Cindy H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Miwa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yasui
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giallo
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Ed
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tronick
authors.affiliation: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Larry J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Seidman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States