Examination of the stress level of parents with children aged 0-4 and the affecting factors

This research shows that the stress levels of parents with children between the ages of 0-4 are affected by various complex factors. This period naturally leads to an increase in stress levels due to the new responsibilities that parents take on in order to support the development of their children. Family dynamics and the wider social environment also have important effects on mental health; a supportive family structure and a circle of friends can be useful in reducing stress. In addition, children's health problems or behavioral difficulties can increase their anxiety by making parents feel intense stress. Given all these elements, it is extremely important to develop supportive mechanisms in order to protect parents' mental health and make it easier for them to cope with stress. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the stress level of parents with children under 4 years of age and the factors affecting them. The study was conducted between May 2024 and November 2024 using an online form. The study included 260 community-based parents with children under 4 years of age. In the collection of data; 'Personal Information Form' and 'Parental Stress Scale', which were prepared in line with the literature information, including descriptive characteristics about the family and child, were used. This study reveals that the stress level of parents with children under 4 years of age shows significant differences with socio-demographic and health status variables, and that the health status of the child and the perception of communication within the family also have an effect on parental stress levels. In this direction, programmes for parents with high stress levels will increase the quality of child care by increasing the harmony and comfort of the parents and making the parents less stressed. Keywords: 0-4 years, Child Development, Parental Stress, Influencing Factors.