Introduction to the Special Interest Issue on Parent/Guardian Interventions in Pediatric Psychology: The Role of the Pediatric Psychologist Working with Caregivers as the Target of Intervention

Abstract

Objective: There is a complex and bidirectional relationship between parent/guardian wellbeing and child physical and mental health. The role of a pediatric psychologist in this relationship has historically emphasized working with the parent as an agent of change to disseminate evidence-based skills and techniques toward improving child functioning. Increasingly, the role a pediatric psychologist can play in directly impacting the health and wellbeing of the parent/guardian of the identified patient is being explored, especially with expanded integration of behavioral health into primary care and medical home models that approach child health through a holistic, preventative lens. Furthermore, parents of children with acute/chronic illness are at increased risk of mental health concerns themselves; thus, considering parent functioning as its own outcome when working with pediatric patients may confer additional benefits in optimizing family adjustment. Method: Articles inclusive of topics on screening, early intervention, treatment, and program development targeting the parent/guardian of pediatric patients were considered for this issue. Results: This Special Issue includes 10 articles highlighting novel interventions targeting parent well-being in primary care and medical subspecialty settings using a range of service delivery modalities. Additionally, this issue explores the ethical, logistical, and systems considerations that can pose challenges to responding to parent mental health needs within the pediatric health care system, which pediatric psychology as a field is still learning to negotiate. Conclusions: This issue highlights clinical practice approaches and novel research in which the primary target of intervention is the caregiver of a pediatric patient