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Abstract
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Introduction: Being a parent plays an important role in the life trajectory and identity of individuals. The parental role implies demands that, under certain circumstances, may negatively affect their well-being. The concept of parental stress attempts to capture a dimension of parenting associated with role overload as a source of discomfort. In this sense parental mental health has long been defined as the absence of psychopathology. However, understanding parental mental health as the absence of mental illness is a limited view from a developmental psychological perspective that does not consider variables associated with well-being itself. Objective: Based on the model of the two continuums that holds that mental illness and mental health are related but distinct dimensions, the present work proposes a continuum between parental stress as the axis of distress and three basic components of positive mental health: eudaimonic, hedonic and social well-being of parents of preschoolers. Methodology: The present model was studied from a cross-sectional survey of parents of preschoolers (N Total=484, N Mothers=448, N Fathers=36; Mean Age: 21.03 years; Range: 18-65 years). Parental stress was measured with the Parental Stress Index RF and Well-Being with the Pemberton Happiness Index (PHI). Results: Preliminary results suggest an inverse relationship between age, well-being and parental stress in the total sample. The relationship between parental age and parental stress is inverse, as well as for well-being. When the information is disaggregated between mothers and fathers the trend of the total sample is maintained in mothers, not so in fathers suggesting a very low direct association between age and parental stress and a low and direct relationship between age and general well-being. Discussion and conclusions: The present study supports the model of the two continua, which suggests that parental stress as a clinical nosological entity and well-being are not opposite ends of the same continuum, but coexist in the same ecology with differences situated in the age of those who exercise the role of care and protection of preschool children. Differences in individual life cycles explain much of the variation in levels of parental stress and well-being of parents of preschoolers.
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