Sleep, coparenting, and parenting among mothers and fathers prior to kindergarten transition.

The identification of family-level and modifiable factors that are influential determinants of parenting is of critical importance. The present study of mothers and fathers investigated within- and across-parent linkages between sleep duration and variability, the coparenting relationship, and parenting quality, as well as the moderating effect of coparenting in a sample of families with children making the transition to kindergarten using a family systems perspective. Mothers and fathers from 225 families participated in the late summer before their child started kindergarten.

Applying the Family Stress Model to responsive feeding and early obesity prevention.

Rapid weight gain during infancy and obesity during early childhood may lead to adverse health outcomes during later childhood and into adulthood, especially in families experiencing economic hardship. Families experiencing economic hardship may also experience food insecurity, which can impact child development and responsive feeding, an important target for obesity prevention in early life. The Family Stress Model suggests that stress, particularly economic hardship, can negatively impact parents' mental health, parenting, and quality of family relationships.