ABSTRACT

Previous studies have suggested that parents with adolescents in residential treatment (RT) may struggle with their own mental health. However, few have comprehensively described parents’ mental health using valid and reliable measures and examined parent mental health in reference to other contextual factors that may be intertwined and intervenable. Therefore, the purpose of this exploratory study was to describe the perceived stress, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in parents with adolescents in RT in the United States. This cross-sectional study included a sample of parents (N = 71) with adolescents in RT. On average, parents reported elevated depressive symptoms, moderate stress, mild-to-moderate anxiety symptoms, and subthreshold PTSD symptoms. However, there were differences in mental health based on gender, race, ethnicity, adolescent living location, and adolescent psychiatric diagnoses (e.g., bipolar, depressive, and substance use disorders). Findings provide a more comprehensive description of parents’ mental health during the RT admission, underscoring the bidirectionality of parent-adolescent mental health and well-being.

Practice Implications

• Parent mental health screening and treatment may be necessary because of elevated depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress

• Parent stress is chronically elevated across the treatment trajectory, highlighting the need for parent preparation, support, and stress management

• Assessment of trauma and social support is needed because PTSD scores were higher in unpartnered parents

• Parent and adolescent mental health is bidirectional and providing treatment and support to parents benefits adolescents

摘要

先前的研究表明，有青少年接受住院治疗 (RT) 的父母可能会为自己的心理健康而苦苦挣扎。然而，很少有人使用有效和可靠的措施全面描述父母的心理健康，并参考可能相互交织和干预的其他背景因素检查父母的心理健康。因此，这项探索性研究的目的是描述美国接受 RT 的青少年父母的感知压力、焦虑和抑郁症状以及创伤后应激障碍 (PTSD)。这项横断面研究包括接受 RT 的青少年的父母样本 (N = 71)。平均而言，父母报告抑郁症状升高、压力中度、轻度至中度焦虑症状和阈下 PTSD 症状。然而，基于性别、种族、民族、青少年居住地和青少年精神病诊断（例如，躁郁症、抑郁症和物质使用障碍），心理健康存在差异。研究结果更全面地描述了 RT 入院期间父母的心理健康，强调了父母-青少年心理健康和幸福感的双向性。

实践意义

• 由于抑郁症状、焦虑和压力升高，父母可能需要进行心理健康筛查和治疗

• 父母的压力在整个治疗过程中长期升高，突出了父母准备、支持和压力管理的必要性

• 需要对创伤和社会支持进行评估，因为没有伴侣的父母的 PTSD 得分较高

• 父母和青少年的心理健康是双向的，为父母提供治疗和支持有益于青少年