ABSTRACT Objective To examine the associations between coparenting quality and parental mental health (depressive symptoms and stress) among mothers and fathers across seven culturally diverse countries. Background Coparenting plays a critical role in shaping family dynamics and individual wellbeing. While prior research has linked coparenting to parental mental health, cross‐national comparisons remain limited. Methods This secondary analysis was conducted in a merged dataset from eight independently collected samples (2463 fathers and 2437 mothers) from seven countries (Belgium, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Sweden, United States). Coparenting quality was assessed using the Coparenting Relationship Scale. Parental depressive symptoms and stress were measured using validated scales, with z‐score standardization applied across studies. Multigroup path analyses were conducted to examine associations between coparenting and parental mental health, controlling for parent and child age. Model comparisons explored cross‐country differences. Results Higher coparenting quality was mostly consistently associated with lower depressive symptoms among both fathers and mothers. Higher coparenting quality was associated with lower parenting stress for both mothers and fathers in the three countries studied (Brazil, Italy, United States). Model comparisons revealed limited cross‐national differences, with Portugal showing the most distinct patterns. Conclusion Supportive coparenting relationships are linked to improved mental health outcomes for both mothers and fathers across most countries studied. These findings suggest that coparenting quality is linked to parental well‐being across diverse settings, while also indicating potential contextual variation. Implications This study underscores the importance of culturally sensitive family policies and interventions that promote cooperative coparenting as a strategy to support parental mental health globally.
ABSTRACT Objective This qualitative study examined the experiences of mothers of autistic individuals and how the autistic individual's sleep patterns influenced the mother's sleep and daily activities. Background Previous research has shown that sleep problems are common among the autistic population. When offspring have sleep issues, parental sleep is often interrupted, impacting multiple areas of functioning. Method We conducted a reflexive thematic analysis on interview data collected from 11 mothers of autistic individuals with sleep problems in the United States. Results Four themes were identified: it's never predictable, you're always on alert, I cannot sleep like this anymore, and sleep is the secret ingredient. These themes collectively show the interconnected nature between sleep disturbances experienced by autistic offspring and mother's sleep. Conclusion Guided by the family systems theory, sleep problems in autistic individuals affect the quantity, quality, and mental health of their mothers. The resulting chronic sleep deprivation causes difficulties engaging in everyday activities and social relationships. Implications Our findings reveal that when autistic offspring experience sleep problems, the family unit is affected. Service providers must be aware of the widespread effects sleep deprivation may have on family engagement and learning.
ABSTRACT Objective This study examines the associations among family conflicts (FCs), parent–child relationships (PCRs), and subjective well‐being (SWB) within parent–adolescent dyads. Background Family dynamics shape the psychological well‐being of both adolescents and parents, yet how these influences unfold within family dyads remains unclear. Method Using the Actor‐Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM), this study analyzed 5199 Chinese parent–adolescent dyads. Results At the individual level, higher perceived FCs and lower quality of PCRs were associated with lower SWB in both adolescents and parents. At the dyadic level, adolescents' perceived FCs were associated with their own SWB through the mediating role of parents' perceptions of PCRs. Although adolescents' and parents' perceived FCs did not directly predict each other's SWB, they indirectly predicted partner SWB through PCRs. Specifically, parents' perceived FCs indirectly influenced adolescents' SWB through both parents' and adolescents' perceptions of PCRs. Moreover, adolescents' perceived FCs indirectly predicted parents' SWB via parents' perceptions of PCRs. Conclusion PCRs serve as an important mediating mechanism linking FCs to SWB within parent–adolescent dyads. Implications These findings underscore the importance of PCRs for adolescents' and parents' SWB and suggest that family research and interventions should consider both perspectives.
ABSTRACT Objective This study explored parents' perspectives on (1) concepts of resilience, and (2a) stressors and (2b) resources across family, community and wider systems shaping resilience among Black and South Asian Muslim children living in East London. Background Understanding personal and social resources that promote resilience in pre‐adolescence can inform mental health interventions. Families from minoritised ethnic backgrounds remain underrepresented in resilience research, despite often experiencing multisystemic risk factors. Methods Mothers ( n = 9) took part in a workshop (including focus groups) and fathers ( n = 2) took part in a joint interview to explore perspectives on children's resilience. Themes were generated using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Findings were grouped as (1) concepts of resilience, (2) parents' perceptions of stressors and (3) parents' perceptions of resilience resources. Parents highlighted stressors including structural inequalities, government neglect, environmental degradation and intergenerational cultural and educational gaps. Family support, proximity to community and culture, safe and resource‐rich local environments and religion were viewed as central to children's resilience. Conclusions Parents emphasised resilience as relational and socioecological, underscoring the need for interventions that strengthen supportive systems around children. Implications More community‐based research is needed to understand locally relevant resources and inform multisystemic, culturally grounded resilience‐promoting interventions for children facing social adversity.
ABSTRACT Objective This systematic literature review explored foster carers' experiences of allegations made against them, with the aim of informing practice and policy. Background Foster carers occupy a uniquely vulnerable role within child welfare systems, where personal and professional boundaries are often blurred. Allegations of harm are relatively common and contribute to distress, placement instability, and carer attrition. However, carers' lived experiences of allegations remain underexplored, limiting the development of supportive and transparent practice. Method Using thematic synthesis, this review analysed 10 qualitative papers from the United Kingdom, United States and Australia, published between 1991 and 2025, which captured foster carers' experiences of allegations. ENTREQ and PRISMA guidelines were followed to ensure transparency and rigour in the review process. An inductive coding approach was used to generate themes. Results Across the available qualitative literature, foster carers largely described allegations as distressing and damaging. These experiences were conceptualised as a ‘Funnel of Failures’, with six themes highlighting recurring absences, procedural flaws and systemic vulnerabilities. Conclusion Allegation processes highlighted important systemic and relational challenges within foster care systems. Implications Key implications and policy recommendations are described to inform more supportive and transparent practice, including improvements to training, independent support, and system‐level responses.
