Youth daily stressors predict their parents’ wellbeing

Abstract

The experiences of family members are intertwined and the stressors of one family member may crossover to affect the wellbeing of others in the family as well. Prior studies have established that the stress experienced by one marital spouse can affect the wellbeing of their spouse and that parent stress can affect their children’s wellbeing. This study used daily diary data from 318 parent-youth dyads (Mean age parent = 41.34, adolescent = 13.18) to examine whether youth daily stressors (i.e., interpersonal conflicts and demands), were associated with parent wellbeing and cortisol levels. Parents report more negative affect, more physical symptoms (i.e., headaches/fatigue/stomach problems), and exhibit higher bedtime cortisol levels on days when youth experience stressors. These effects were consistent across different types of youth stressors, including parent, family, and non-family stressors. Youth stress may have important implications for parent wellbeing. Youth daily stress affects parents’ daily cortisol levels, mood, and physical health symptoms, indicating a crossover effect of adolescents’ daily stress on their parents’ wellbeing.