The Effects of Parental Stress on Perception of Child Health

Abstract

This study is to examine parents that are also completing coursework at The College at Brockport and the impact of parental stress on their perception of their child’s health. This study will evaluate the influence of parental stress on parenting style, the child’s actual health, the misperception of their child’s health, and the impact of more permissive parenting on the relationship between parental stress and poor child health. The study included four participants whose children attend the Brockport Child Development Center at The College at Brockport. Participants took an anonymous survey that contained modified versions of the Parental Stress Scale and Parenting Style Questionnaire and provided information about their child’s health habits. Results indicate that all four participants believe their children to have a ‘healthy’ diet quality, though only one of the four children received the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables a day made by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Recommendations for future research are offered.