COLUMBUS, Ohio — It may not come as a surprise to many parents to hear that parenting is stressful, but that’s precisely what a recent national survey has found.
What You Need To Know
A recent national found the majority of parents have said they felt stress related to parenting
Almost a third said they were stressed often
A doctor offers some advice to parents
The survey was conducted by Ipsos on behalf of The Kids Mental Health Foundation, which was founded by Nationwide Children’s Hospital, they confirmed in a press release.
It found that 97% of parents who have kids younger than 18 “felt stress related to parenting in the past month.” Nearly a third (30%) indicated that they were often stressed.
According to the Nationwide Children’s Hospital release, top sources of stress included behavioral issues in kids and their emotional or mental health. It also states that 46% of the stressed parents said they felt it added to their kids’ worries or anxiety.
“Parents today are aware of the importance of focusing on children’s mental health when it comes to raising them. The problem is that this generation of parents is the first to try and do this,” said Dr. Ariana Hoet, executive clinical director of The Kids Mental Health Foundation and a pediatric psychologist, in the release. “So, we hear, ‘I don’t have a model. I don’t know how to talk about mental health. I don’t know how to build mental wellness in my home.’ Parents are constantly worried, ‘Am I doing it wrong?’”
Hoet suggested in the release that parents ensure they’re taking care of their own mental health in addition to their kids’. They should keep an eye out for sources of stress and make whatever changes they can to resolve that.
“Dr. Hoet stresses that small changes in the way we interact with our kids can make a difference in the mood of the home and decrease everyone’s stress,” the release reads.
Visit The Kids Mental Health Foundation website for more information and resources.