Sociodemographic Predictors of Perceived Stress in Children and their Mothers

Predictores sociodemográficos del estrés percibido en niños y sus madres

Published 2025-05-26

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Vol. 7 No. 2 (2025)
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Dzhansaidova Z, Rudnova N, Kornienko D, Pashenko A. Sociodemographic Predictors of Perceived Stress in Children and their Mothers. Rev. Investig. Innov. Cienc. Salud [Internet]. 2025 May 26 [cited 2025 Jun. 5];7(2):1-20. Available from: https://riics.info/index.php/RCMC/article/view/397
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Zhamila Dzhansaidova
Lomonosov Moscow State University image/svg+xml
Roles:  
https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6101-8548
Natalia Rudnova
Federal Scientific Center for Psychological and Interdisciplinary Research
Roles:  
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2063-2892
Dmitriy Kornienko
Federal Scientific Center for Psychological and Interdisciplinary Research
Roles:  
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6597-264X
Alexander Pashenko
Federal Scientific Center for Psychological and Interdisciplinary Research
Roles:  
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7489-2986
Show authors biography

Zhamila Dzhansaidova,

Department of Psychology; Moscow State University; Moscow; Russia.

Natalia Rudnova,

Laboratory of Childhood Psychology and Digital Socialization; Federal Scientific Center for Psychological and Interdisciplinary Research; Moscow; Russia.

Dmitriy Kornienko,

Laboratory of Childhood Psychology and Digital Socialization; Federal Scientific Center for Psychological and Interdisciplinary Research; Moscow; Russia.

Alexander Pashenko,

Laboratory of Childhood Psychology and Digital Socialization; Federal Scientific Center for Psychological and Interdisciplinary Research; Moscow; Russia.

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.

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