The Interplay Between Child and Parental Emotional Symptoms: Insights From Super Skills for Life Programme

Abstract

Research has extensively examined the influence of parental well-being on children's emotional health, yet fewer studies have explored the reciprocal impact of children's emotional health on parents. This study aimed to identify factors associated with parental emotional symptoms and assess the effectiveness of the Super Skills for Life (SSL) programme—delivered in traditional and computerized formats—in improving parental emotional outcomes and satisfaction. A total of 102 Spanish-speaking children aged 8–12 years exhibiting subclinical levels of anxiety and/or depression participated in this randomized effectiveness clinical trial (Clini calTr ials. gov ID: NCT05574491). Participants were randomly assigned to either the traditional (n = 53) or computerized (n = 49) SSL format. Both interventions were delivered individually in a clinical setting under therapist supervision. Parental emotional symptoms and satisfaction, along with children's emotional symptoms, were assessed through self-reported measures. Higher parental emotional symptoms were associated with greater child emotional symptoms and lower parental satisfaction, particularly satisfaction with oneself as a parent. Gender differences were observed, with women reporting higher levels of anxiety. Both SSL formats significantly improved parental satisfaction and mental health outcomes, with no significant differences between the two intervention groups. Findings suggest that SSL not only benefits children's emotional health but also enhances parental well-being through direct support (therapist guidance and written resources) and indirect mechanisms (child symptom improvement). The programme's flexibility and effectiveness make it a valuable intervention for supporting both children and parents in clinical settings.