Ill Parents’ Mental and Physical Well-Being and Their Young Children’s Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: The children of ill parents are in a state of vulnerability, facing a range of emotional and behavioral difficulties. This study is a dedicated effort to delve into the relationships between the mental well-being (mental component score [MCS]) and daily physical functioning of ill parents and the internal and external difficulties experienced by their young children. The study also explores the mediating role of family functioning (Family Assessment Device), social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support), and parents’ communication of the illness with their young child (parent–child dialogue) as a moderating factor. Method: The sample included 60 ill parents with either diabetes, cancer, or an affective mental disorder of young children recruited from outpatient clinics in a regional medical center. All parents completed self-report questionnaires. Results: Findings showed that ill parents’ MCS negatively and significantly predicted the presence of the child’s internalized and externalized symptoms, and the level of Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Family Assessment Device negatively mediated this association. Low levels of parent–child dialogue had a significant negative impact on the association between the ill parent’s MCS and the child’s internal symptoms. Discussion: The results underscore the pivotal role of ill parents’ mental well-being in the emotional and behavioral difficulties of young children. They highlight the potential influence of family functioning, social support, and parent–child dialogue about the illness on both parents and their young children. Future studies must delve deeper into this topic, considering different parental illnesses, cultures, and family/child characteristics to enhance family support systems and interventions further.