Chilean educational program significantly reduces the parental stress of caregivers through its online workshops

The internationally-used Indicator Parent Stress Index (PSI) shows a significant decrease in the stress presented by parents and caregivers after participating in the Criando y Creciendo [Raising Children] program.

Why is it important to reduce parental stress? Experts worldwide have extensively studied this topic and have concluded that a high of parental stress level negatively impacts the bond that parents and caregivers build with their children.

Reducing this level of stress is not an easy task, nor is it an impossible one. It is very important above all considering that parents or caregivers are children’s first educators. This is demonstrated by the favorable results from administering the Parent Stress Index (PSI) evaluation in the Criando y Creciendo (C&C) program of the CMPC Foundation.

International evidence shows that adults with high levels of stress tend to be more irritable, have less patience, listen less, have more distant and cold relationships, be more rigid and, above all, have a greater tendency to fall into depressive illnesses or have anxiety disorders.    

“Mental health, stress and depression directly influence children’s development, but also the skills that parents demonstrate with their children. If a mother is stressed out and worried about that stress, she won’t be able to be sensitive to the child, to understand him or her and know what he or she needs because her cognitive capacity is taken up by something else,” said Marigen Narea, an academic at the School of Psychology of the Catholic University and a researcher at the Center for Advanced Studies on Educational Justice.     

The PSI is an international standardized measurement that can measure the level of stress experienced by parents and/or caregivers and catalogs it at different levels to differentiate what is a normal level from something that is higher or clinically worrying.

This standardized tool was administered a week beforehand to the families who were to participate in the seven workshops provided by the C&C program and once again after the program ended. The result was that the parental stress of caregivers of children aged 2 to 5 years  significantly decreased, showing a drop of 6.04 points on the General Stress scale.

In other words, said the executive director of the CMPC Foundation Carolina Andueza, “The approach of these workshops, based on the responsive interactions of the children’s caregivers, promotes the healthy development of children at a critical stage. Therefore, what these evaluations are showing us is that the ways that fathers and mothers interact is further strengthened when they feel accompanied in their parenting and less stressed than when facing parenting challenges in a more isolated way.”    

Director of the Liguria Foundation María José Uauy said, “Reducing parental stress is more important during early childhood. As neuroscience has shown, the first 1,000 days are fundamental for brain development and for learning and acquiring soft skills.”

The C&C program was implemented in the Casablanca district (Valparaíso region) thanks to an alliance of the Liguria Foundation and the CMPC Foundation. María José also said, “The importance of a program achieving its objective of reducing parental stress is very relevant, since we can infer that environments conducive to a child’s development are being generated.”

Marigen Narea added, “We know that there are certain early interventions that could help deal with that stress and keep it at an optimal level so that stimulating and enriching interactions can take place and help children properly develop.”  

Carolina Andueza said, “Although we know that we learn throughout our lives, we also know that in these early stages quality interactions with caregivers wherein they pay attention to children’s signals, strengthen the developing brain architecture. This is why it is essential to provide models to parents that support them in their role.”    

How does the program work?

The C&C workshops are held in Chile in 12 districts within the regions of Valparaíso, Metropolitan, Maule, Biobío, Araucanía, Los Ríos and Los Lagos.  A cycle of seven weekly workshops for caregivers of 90 minutes duration are offered that span a two-month period aimed at caregivers for children aged 0 to 2 years and 2 to 4 years.  

In each workshop, caregivers learn simple, concrete strategies aimed at nurturing interactions and understanding how these strategies significantly impact their child’s development and learning.

Caregivers feel that C&C gives them concrete and applicable tools for raising their children and that lead them to feel that they are now able to read their children better and to guide them and reducing conflicts in the home.

“For me the experience has been very enriching in the sense of learning and guidance, since we don’t all have the tools needed to properly raise children. Oftentimes this is a period of loneliness with reduced support networks. Sometimes it is difficult, and fatigue becomes imminent,” said Fiama Cifuentes, a C&C participant in the San Rosendo district of the Biobío region. 

Furthermore, the families that were consulted expressed no longer feeling that they are alone in this process. Having a network and meeting other people experiencing the same thing helps them feel more relaxed  when it comes to parenting.

In this regard, Fiama Cifuentes said, “Since there are other people going through the same thing, I now feel that I can be the best version of myself, and I’m more determined. Sometimes there are ups and downs and different situations in which one develops and experiences various emotions. I also realized in the workshop that being sad doesn’t mean I’m bad. We shouldn’t let those experiences pile up, but we must express how we feel so we don’t get sick.

For more information go to the CMPC Foundation website at fundacioncmpc.cl.