Parenting stress and its relation to mothers' characteristics and children's age

Abstract

This study examines how intolerance of uncertainty, optimism, depression and anxiety, parental self‐efficacy, and perceived family support predict parenting stress among Israeli mothers of children aged 0 to 5 and 6 to 17. Literature indicates inconclusive findings regarding differences in stress among parents of children across age groups. The present study examines a comprehensive model of the interplay between parent characteristics and family social context in explaining parenting stress within a heightened stress environment. This model is compared across different child age groups. A cross‐sectional survey of 403 Israeli mothers was conducted during active conflict. Correlational analyses and multigroup structural equation modeling assessed predictors of parenting stress and differences by child age group. Parenting stress was positively associated with intolerance of uncertainty and psychological distress, and negatively with optimism, parental self‐efficacy, and perceived family support. Psychological distress more strongly undermined self‐efficacy and family support among mothers of younger children, while optimism was more protective for mothers of older children. The differential effects across children's age groups reveal a complex web of relationships contributing to parenting stress at different age groups. Interventions should enhance parental self‐efficacy and family support tailored to the child's age.