Sociodemographic Predictors of Perceived Stress in Children and their Mothers

Introduction. Over the past decade, there has been a growing recognition of the need to study stress in both adults and children. Among the various factors influencing stress, sociodemographic characteristics play a significant role. Objective. The current study aims to identify the environmental factors associated with stress in both mothers and children, as well as to explore the role of mothers’ stress in the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and child stress. Method. The sample consisted of 419 mothers of preschoolers aged 20 to 48 (M = 34.75, SD = 6.01). Participants completed an online survey that included the Perceived Stress Scale for Children, the Perceived Stress Scale, The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and questions related to their sociodemographic characteristics. Results. Mothers’ perceived stress contributed positively to children’s distress. Mothers’ perceived stress was connected with the low socioeconomic status of the family. Analysis showed that when considering social support, the significance of the family’s socioeconomic status diminished. Both children’s and mothers’ stress levels were related to their place of residence and social support. Mothers’ stress mediated the association between socioeconomic status of the family and child stress. Conclusion. Various sociodemographic characteristics can serve as both stress risk factors among children and their parents and play a protective role. Timely identification of at-risk individuals is crucial, along with implementing interventions aimed at preventing and reducing their stress levels. Considering the relationship between mother and child stress, these interventions should focus on both children and their parents, providing training in coping skills, emotional regulation, and resource search.