Children at Risk: Parental Risk Factors Influencing Treatment Outcomes

Research suggests that parental risk factors are associated with poor child emotional and physical outcomes. This study evaluates the association between parental risk factors (parental mental health disorders, parental substance abuse, parental incarceration and domestic violence) and child behaviors following mental health treatment. Data from children (N=294, mean age 10.8 years, S.D. 3.0) receiving mental health treatment at an urban mental health center and their parents were analyzed. Linear regression analyses were performed to analyze the associations between parental risk and child behavior outcomes at baseline and six months. At baseline, child behavior was not associated with hypothesized parental risk factors. At six months, children with a history of paternal mental health disorders had a mean internalizing behavior score that was 6.7 points higher than children without paternal mental health disorders, F (5,82) = 15.43, p = 0.034. Children with a history of maternal mental health disorders, had a mean internalizing behavior score that was 5.4 points lower than children without a history of maternal mental health disorders, F (5,82) = 15.49, p = 0.031. Mean total behavior score for children with maternal mental health disorders was 5.2 points lower compared to mean scores for children without maternal mental health disorders, F (5,82) = 27.82, p = 0.012. Children who had a history of maternal mental health disorders demonstrated improved behavior outcomes versus children with a history of paternal mental health disorders. Further research is needed to understand the association between paternal mental health and child behavior outcomes.