Parenting behaviors, marital discord and the mental health of young females: a cross-sectional study from Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: Divorce is considered a sentinel event influencing the economic, psychosocial and physical health of the family as a whole. Research shows a negative impact of parental marital discord (PMD) on the psychological health and social well-being of children. Only one study from Saudi Arabia has assessed educational and social attainment among young females, and the children were school girls aged 12-16 years. OBJECTIVES: Explore the relationship between parental marital discord and depression, anxiety, stress, social support and self-esteem of the female child. We also studied the parenting behaviors and their association with the psychosocial health of adolescents. DESIGN: Cross-sectional questionnaire. SETTINGS: Women's university in Saudi Arabia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: REDCap was used for collecting data through email invitations sent to all students at the university. Data on family structure, parental relationship, self-esteem and psycho-social health was collected. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Depression, anxiety, stress, self-esteem and social support of the adolescent. Parenting behaviors of both parents were also assessed. SAMPLE SIZE: 296. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of participants was 20.5 (2.4) years (median 20.0, IQR 19-22). The frequency of PMD was 24.6% (73/296). Overall, 38% of the students had extra severe anxiety, 26.5% had extra severe depression and 20.5% had extra severe stress on the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS). The mean self-esteem score was 20.8 (5.5) and social support score was 57 (19.7). Both parents demonstrated low care and high protection trait on the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). Among those with PMD, mean (SD) age at discord was 11.4 (6.7) years. Mean (SD) duration of parental marriage was 20.9 (10.7) years and 35% of daughters received no financial help from the father. There was a significant association between PMD and depression, anxiety, stress and poor social support. PMD was associated with low paternal care and high protection trait. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed an alarming burden of mental health problems including depression, anxiety and stress among young Saudi females. Marital discord is prevalent in Saudi Arabia and is significantly related to poor psychosocial health in the child. Parents undergoing marital discord should be educated about healthy parenting styles and their children should be provided with counselling and coping strategies to maintain their emotional and psychological well-being. LIMITATIONS: Online survey could lead to volunteer bias. Only females are included in the study. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.