Promoting Health and Preventing Injury in Preschool Children: The Role of Parenting Stress

There is concern that parents under stress may not be effective in promoting health and preventing injury in young children, but research in this area has been limited. To explore this issue, a study was conducted to look at the relationship between self-reported parenting stress and actions taken to promote health and to prevent injury in preschool-age children. The study was conducted in collaboration with 15 Head Start programs in northeast Ohio. Five hundred thirty-one parents or guardians of children in the program completed a 10-minute survey on health and injury prevention administered through a “talking” laptop computer. This study presents new data linking parenting stress to the decreased likelihood of preventive measures being in place to reduce injury and illness risk in preschool children. Parents under stress may need social support and ways to develop a working support network to help prevent injury to young children and ensure the delivery of appropriate medical care. Early childhood caregivers and educators may have useful roles to play in such support networks.