The association between positive parent-child interaction and mental health outcomes in children aged 1-11 years in Canada

ObjectivesThe prevalence of mental health disorders in Canada has increased over the past 10 years. Positive parent-child interaction (PCI) is a potential protective factor for child mental health, but has not been explored in a Canadian context. This study aimed to determine the association between positive PCI and mental health outcomes in children ages 1-11 years in Canada.MethodsParticipants were included from the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (CHSCY) (N = 28,874). PCI was assessed using five items, reported by the parents. The combined PCI score was also derived. Parent-reported general child mental health was the main outcome. Multivariable logistic regression models, adjusting for confounders, were performed.ResultsOnly 2.8% of parents reported their child's mental health to be "fair/poor". The adjusted analysis did not show an association between combined PCI score and parent-reported general child mental health (OR = 0.96; 95%CI 0.91-1.01). Models assessing individual PCI items did not show significant associations with general child mental health, except for the "laughs with child" item.ConclusionWhile it is theorized that positive PCI is predictive of child mental health, this study did not find a consistent association, except for the frequency at which the parent laughs with the child. This suggests that PCI, as measured in CHSCY, is not a strong indicator of child mental health. Yet, as PCI is an important parenting concept, the PCI items in the CHSCY may not adequately capture the intended construct. Future studies should consider assessing the construct validity of these items. ObjectifsLa pr & eacute;valence des troubles mentaux au Canada a augment & eacute; au cours des dix derni & egrave;res ann & eacute;es. L'interaction parent-enfant (PCI) positive est un facteur de protection potentiel pour la sant & eacute; mentale des enfants, mais elle n'a pas & eacute;t & eacute; & eacute;tudi & eacute;e dans un contexte canadien. La pr & eacute;sente & eacute;tude visait & agrave; d & eacute;terminer l'association entre l'interaction parent-enfant positive et les r & eacute;sultats en mati & egrave;re de sant & eacute; mentale chez les enfants & acirc;g & eacute;s de 1 & agrave; 11 ans au Canada.M & eacute;thodologieLes participants ont & eacute;t & eacute; inclus dans l'Enqu & ecirc;te canadienne sur la sant & eacute; des enfants et des jeunes (ECSEJ) de 2019 (N = 28 874). L'interaction parent-enfant a & eacute;t & eacute; & eacute;valu & eacute;e & agrave; l'aide de cinq & eacute;l & eacute;ments, d & eacute;clar & eacute;s par les parents. Le score PCI combin & eacute; a & eacute;galement & eacute;t & eacute; calcul & eacute;. Le principal r & eacute;sultat & eacute;tait la sant & eacute; mentale g & eacute;n & eacute;rale des enfants d & eacute;clar & eacute;e par les parents. Des mod & egrave;les de r & eacute;gression logistique multivariable, ajust & eacute;s pour tenir compte des facteurs de confusion, ont & eacute;t & eacute; r & eacute;alis & eacute;s.R & eacute;sultatsSeuls 2,8% des parents ont d & eacute;clar & eacute; que la sant & eacute; mentale de leur enfant & eacute;tait << passable/mauvaise >>. L'analyse ajust & eacute;e n'a pas r & eacute;v & eacute;l & eacute; d'association entre le score PCI combin & eacute; et la sant & eacute; mentale g & eacute;n & eacute;rale des enfants d & eacute;clar & eacute;e par les parents (RC = 0,96; IC & agrave; 95%: de 0,91 & agrave; 1,01). Les mod & egrave;les & eacute;valuant les & eacute;l & eacute;ments individuels de l'interaction parent-enfant n'ont pas r & eacute;v & eacute;l & eacute; d'associations significatives avec la sant & eacute; mentale g & eacute;n & eacute;rale des enfants, & agrave; l'exception de l'& eacute;l & eacute;ment << rit avec l'enfant >> .ConclusionsBien qu'il soit th & eacute;oris & eacute; qu'une interaction parent-enfant positive permet de pr & eacute;dire la sant & eacute; mentale des enfants, cette & eacute;tude n'a pas trouv & eacute; d'association coh & eacute;rente, & agrave; l'exception de la fr & eacute;quence & agrave; laquelle le parent rit avec l'enfant. Cela sugg & egrave;re que l'interaction parent-enfant, comme mesur & eacute;e dans l'ECSEJ, n'est pas un indicateur solide de la sant & eacute; mentale des enfants. Pourtant, comme l'interaction parent-enfant est un concept parental important, les & eacute;l & eacute;ments de l'interaction parent-enfant de l'ECSEJ pourraient ne pas refl & eacute;ter de mani & egrave;re ad & eacute;quate le concept vis & eacute;. Les & eacute;tudes futures devraient envisager d'& eacute;valuer la validit & eacute; conceptuelle de ces & eacute;l & eacute;ments.