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Co-parenting Pathways from Grandparents’ Psychological Control to Parents’ Depressive Symptoms

Author

Listed:
  • Jia Chen

    (Shanghai University)

  • Yuanyuan Fu

    (Beijing Normal University)

  • Xiaochen Zhou

    (University of Hong Kong)

Abstract

Researchers have extensively investigated parents’ psychological control over children. However, there is a lack of research examining parent psychological control during adulthood and its underlying mechanisms, particularly in the context of intergenerational co-parenting. The present study aimed to fill this gap by exploring the potential mediating roles of multidimensional intergenerational co-parenting relationships and insomnia severity in the association between grandparents’ psychological control and parents’ depressive symptoms. Data were collected from intergenerational co-parenting families in urban Tianjin and Shanghai, China (N = 674). Serial mediation models were used to allow for two mediators simultaneously. Path analyses were performed to investigate the mediation models of the total score and each sub-construct of intergenerational co-parenting relationships, respectively. The results showed that in the context of intergenerational co-parenting, grandparent psychological control was positively associated with parents’ depressive symptoms. Intergenerational co-parenting relationships and parents’ insomnia severity alone mediated the association between grandparents’ psychological control and parents’ depressive symptoms, respectively. Moreover, among the multiple dimensions of intergenerational co-parenting relationships, only the dimension of exposure of child to conflict via insomnia severity mediated such an association. Family service practitioners or therapists working with intergenerational co-parenting families should pay attention to parents with high levels of grandparent psychological control and focus on enhancing parent-grandparent co-parenting relationships, particularly reducing parent-grandparent conflict exposure to children. Additionally, addressing parents’ sleep problems might be a key component of interventions aimed at improving the psychological well-being of parents experiencing psychological control from co-parenting grandparents.

Suggested Citation

  • Jia Chen & Yuanyuan Fu & Xiaochen Zhou, 2025. "Co-parenting Pathways from Grandparents’ Psychological Control to Parents’ Depressive Symptoms," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 20(1), pages 235-256, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:20:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s11482-024-10403-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11482-024-10403-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Qin, Xuezheng & Wang, Suyin & Hsieh, Chee-Ruey, 2018. "The prevalence of depression and depressive symptoms among adults in China: Estimation based on a National Household Survey," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 271-282.
    2. Daniel T. L. Shek & Xiaoqin Zhu, 2019. "Paternal and Maternal Influence on Delinquency among Early Adolescents in Hong Kong," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-24, April.
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