Parenting stress among mothers of adolescents in Sri Lanka: Associated factors

• Main Authors: Y.G. Ellawella, P. Fonseka, S.T. Kaththriarachchi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists 2015-12-01
• Series: Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry
• Subjects: mothers of adolescents, parenting stress, risk factors, sipa
• Online Access: https://sljpsyc.sljol.info/articles/8075
• ISSN: 2012-6883; 2579-2008

<p><strong>Background </strong>Parenting stress is the tension parents feel in fulfilling their parenting functions. Parenting children of any age is difficult, but it can be especially difficult with regards to older children of pre-teen and teenage years.</p><p><strong>Aim </strong>The aim of this study was to describe risk factors for parenting stress among mothers of adolescents aged 15-19 years in the district of Colombo, Sri Lanka.</p><p><strong>Methods </strong>An unmatched case control study was conducted among 421 mothers with high parenting stress, and 421 mothers with low parenting stress. Levels of stress amongst mothers were identified by the administration of the Stress Index for Parents of Adolescents (SIPA), which has been translated and validated for Sri Lanka. An interviewer administered study-specific anonymous questionnaire was used to gather other relevant data.</p><p><strong>Results </strong>Behavioural problems in the adolescent, poor relationship with the adolescent, stressful life events during the mother’s adolescence, poor marital satisfaction, and unavailability of support from friends emerged as significant risk factors associated with high parenting stress.</p><p><strong>Conclusions </strong>The risk of high parenting stress among mothers of adolescents was associated with multi-dimensional factors related to the adolescent, mother, family and society. All these factors should be addressed to improve the psychological wellbeing of both the mother and the adolescent.  </p><p>SL J Psychiatry 2015; 6(2): 15-19</p>