An observational study on psychiatric health problems and parenting style in children of parents with psychiatric illnesses

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The parent with mental illnesses can have significant long-term effects on the mental health of the children. The

offspring of parents with mental illnesses can have various behavioral and psychological disorders. Parenting style,

which influences child development and resilience, plays a crucial role in this context. Hence, the study aims to

investigate the psychiatric and behavior problems of children of parents with mental illnesses and to understand

the role of parenting in psychopathology of children.

Methodology

A cross-sectional study was conducted at tertiary care center, Delhi. The mental health of 92 children was assessed

by using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Kids (MINI-KID) and parenting style of 70 parents with

mental illnesses was assessed by using the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire. Participants were recruited through

purposive sampling. The statistical analysis was done by using descriptive statistics and spearman’s rank correlation

coefficients.

Results

The findings revealed that 36.9 % of the children exhibited behavioral issues, with a notable prevalence of both

internalizing (e.g., transient anxiety symptoms, sleep disturbances) and externalizing symptoms (e.g., irritability,

poor academic performance). Approximately 28.2% of the children were diagnosed with psychiatric illnesses,

predominantly anxiety disorders, followed by mood disorders. The parents with mental illness exhibited both

positive and negative parenting styles, with poor monitoring being the most common negative style, and higher

positive parenting associated with lower child psychopathology.

Conclusion

The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions and support systems for families affected by

parental mental illness, highlighting the critical role of parenting practices in mitigating the risk of intergenerational

transmission of mental health problems.