Parent Readiness, Preparedness, and Behaviors as Social Determinants of Health for Adolescents, Young Adults, and Parents

Parenting plays a pivotal role in shaping the health and well-being of children, especially during adolescence and young adulthood. While social determinants of health (SDOH) are commonly understood as external factors, such as socioeconomic status, education, and neighborhood environment, parental behaviors, readiness, and preparedness are emerging as equally critical determinants of health. Parental involvement influences the physical, emotional, and mental health of their adolescent and young adult (AYA) children, as well as their own well-being.

Parental readiness, which includes the capacity to understand, anticipate, and manage the challenges of raising teens and young adults, has a profound impact on health outcomes. Additionally, parents’ preparedness—their ability to adapt to changing circumstances and meet their children's evolving needs—plays a crucial role in shaping health behaviors. Parents' actions, or behaviors, influence access to healthcare, management of chronic conditions, mental health, and education, and contribute to overall life satisfaction and resilience during this transitional period.

This background brief explores how parent readiness, preparedness, and behaviors are critical social determinants of health, with a focus on the impacts on AYA individuals and their parents. It also examines the benefits of supporting parents and the costs associated with not doing so for healthcare providers, health insurers, employers, families, and communities.

?

Impact on Adolescents and Young Adults

Parental involvement is a well-documented determinant of child and adolescent health outcomes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), social determinants of health are “the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age.” These conditions are influenced by economic policies, development strategies, and social norms. Among these factors, parents’ behaviors and engagement are fundamental to shaping their children's experiences across these determinants.

?

1. Health Care Access and Utilization: Parents act as gatekeepers to healthcare services for their children, particularly during adolescence. Research shows that parental knowledge and proactive involvement in healthcare decisions positively impact adolescents’ health care utilization. Parents who are prepared to navigate the healthcare system ensure that their children receive timely preventive care, mental health services, and treatment for chronic conditions. Conversely, a lack of parental readiness can lead to delayed or missed healthcare, negatively affecting health outcomes.

2. Mental Health and Behavioral Health: The mental health of adolescents is influenced by family dynamics and parental involvement. Parents who demonstrate emotional readiness and support during adolescence can buffer their children against mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. In contrast, parents who are unprepared to recognize or address these issues often contribute to a worsening of mental health conditions (Golberstein, 2019). A study by Luthar and Barkin (2018) found that adolescents with emotionally engaged and prepared parents exhibited higher levels of resilience and better mental health outcomes compared to those whose parents were disengaged or underprepared.

3. Education and Life Skills: Parental involvement is also crucial for academic success and the development of life skills. Adolescents with supportive parents are more likely to achieve academic success and demonstrate better problem-solving skills. Parent readiness and preparedness directly affect a child’s ability to balance academics with other responsibilities, ultimately contributing to long-term health outcomes such as socioeconomic stability and reduced risk of mental and physical health issues later in life.

?

Impact on Parents Themselves

Parenting adolescents presents unique challenges that can significantly affect parents’ own health and well-being. Studies show that parents of teens experience heightened stress levels, which can contribute to physical and mental health challenges. Parental preparedness, particularly in managing conflict and balancing work-family demands, plays a critical role in mitigating these stressors.

1. Chronic Stress and Burnout: The transition to parenting adolescents is often marked by increased stress due to managing the complexities of teenage behavior, academic pressures, and social issues. Prolonged exposure to these stressors can lead to chronic stress and burnout among parents. Burnout, in turn, affects parents’ physical health, increasing the risk of conditions such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

2. Parent-Child Relationships and Health: The quality of the parent-child relationship during adolescence has implications for parents’ emotional well-being. Positive relationships marked by effective communication, emotional support, and trust promote better mental health outcomes for both parents and children. On the other hand, conflict-ridden or strained relationships can exacerbate parental stress and negatively affect health outcomes.

3. Work-Family Balance: Parents who are unprepared to manage the demands of work and family life during the teenage years may experience reduced job satisfaction, absenteeism, and increased stress (Voydanoff, 2001). Employers that fail to recognize the need for flexibility and support for working parents of teens often face higher turnover and lower productivity.

?

The Role of Parental Support as a Health Intervention

Recognizing parents as a critical component of their children’s health outcomes has led to increasing interest in interventions that support parents during the adolescent years. Programs that focus on enhancing parental readiness, offering resources, and providing emotional support can result in substantial benefits for both parents and adolescents.

1. Health Care Providers: Supporting parents in their role as caregivers can lead to improved patient outcomes, especially in managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and mental health issues. Research shows that when healthcare providers engage with parents through education and support programs, adherence to treatment plans improves, reducing healthcare costs and improving long-term outcomes. Furthermore, family-centered care models that integrate parents into decision-making processes have been shown to enhance patient satisfaction and reduce hospital readmissions.

2. Health Insurers: For health insurers, supporting parents of adolescents is a strategic investment. Adolescents with engaged and prepared parents are more likely to adhere to preventive care measures, reducing the need for costly emergency care and interventions. Insurers that offer parent-focused resources and wellness programs can improve health outcomes and lower costs related to chronic disease management, behavioral health services, and mental health crises (Plough, 2020).

?

3. Employers: Employers who recognize the challenges faced by working parents of teens can benefit from improved employee performance, job satisfaction, and retention. Programs such as flexible work schedules, parental leave policies, and access to mental health resources for parents can reduce absenteeism and increase productivity (Kossek et al., 2020). Conversely, employers that fail to support parents during this stage may experience higher rates of employee turnover and lower overall engagement.

4. Families and Communities: Parental readiness and involvement during adolescence can have far-reaching effects on family dynamics and community well-being. Communities that invest in programs supporting parents—such as parenting workshops, mental health resources, and family counseling—experience lower rates of juvenile delinquency, substance abuse, and school dropout (Gustafson & Rhodes, 2021). The social and economic costs of failing to support parents during this stage are significant, including increased reliance on social services, higher crime rates, and greater health disparities.

?

The Costs of Failing to Support Parents of Adolescents

Failing to support parents of adolescents has long-term consequences for families, healthcare systems, and society at large. The ripple effects of poor parental readiness and lack of resources are visible in multiple sectors:

1. Increased Healthcare Costs: When parents lack the skills or resources to manage their children’s health needs, the healthcare system often bears the burden of preventable illnesses, mental health crises, and chronic disease exacerbations (Glied & Frank, 2021). Poor parental engagement has been linked to higher rates of emergency room visits, hospital admissions, and longer treatment durations for adolescents with chronic conditions.

2. Strain on Mental Health Services: The mental health crisis among adolescents is exacerbated by inadequate parental support. Parents who are not equipped to recognize or address mental health issues in their children contribute to the growing demand for mental health services, often leading to delayed intervention and more severe outcomes. This has significant implications for the capacity of mental health providers and the overall costs to healthcare systems.

3. Economic Costs to Employers and Society: Parents who struggle to balance work and family demands during the teenage years are more likely to experience job dissatisfaction, reduced productivity, and higher rates of absenteeism. In turn, this affects employers through increased recruitment and training costs, lost productivity, and decreased workplace morale (Kossek & Michel, 2020). Moreover, the long-term social costs of neglecting parental support—such as increased crime, lower educational attainment, and poorer health outcomes—are significant and far-reaching.

?

Conclusion

Parent readiness, preparedness, and behaviors are key social determinants of health for adolescents, young adults, and the parents themselves. These factors influence a wide range of health outcomes, from physical and mental health to educational achievement and life satisfaction. Supporting parents in their roles during this critical developmental period is essential for improving health outcomes and reducing costs for healthcare providers, insurers, employers

?

References

Bocknek EL, Richardson PA, McGoron L, Raveau H, Iruka IU. Adaptive Parenting Among Low-Income Black Mothers and Toddlers' Regulation of Distress. Child Dev. 2020 Nov;91(6):2178-2191.

Golberstein, E, Gonzales G., Meara E. How Do Economic Downturns Affect the Mental Health of Children? Evidence from the National Health Interview Survey. Health Economics Vol 28, Issue 8 (2019).

Gustafson, E.L., Lakind, D., Walden, A.L.?et al.?Engaging Parents in Mental Health Services: A Qualitative Study of Community Health Workers’ Strategies in High Poverty Urban Communities.?Adm Policy Ment Health?48, 1019–1033 (2021).

Frank RG, Glied SAM, Shields M. Jobs for People with Mental Health Conditions: Trends and Prospects. Psychiatr Serv. 2021 Feb 1;72(2):143-147. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps .202000243. Epub 2020 Sep 23.

Kossek EE, Petty RA, Bodner TE, Perrigino MB, Hammer LB, Yragui NL, Michel JS. Lasting Impression: Transformational Leadership and Family Supportive Supervision as Resources for Well-being and Performance. Occup Health Sci. 2018 Mar;2(1):1-24.

Luthar, S.S., Kumar, N.L. (2018). Youth in High-Achieving Schools: Challenges to Mental Health and Directions for Evidence-Based Interventions. In: Leschied, A., Saklofske, D., Flett, G. (eds) Handbook of School-Based Mental Health Promotion.

Plough, Alonzo L. (2020). Well Being: Expanding the Definition of Progress. Oxford University Press.

Voydanoff, P. (2001). Incorporating Community into Work and Family Research: A Review of Basic Relationships.?Human Relations,?54(12), 1609-1637.

Copyright @