Investigating Direct And Indirect Influences Of Parent Personality On Child Medication Adherence

This study examined whether parent-provider communication or parent involvement in the child's regimen mediated relationships between select parent personality traits and child medication adherence in a sample of 270 parents of children recently prescribed a medication. Recruitment occurred via MTurk. Parent neuroticism had an indirect effect on child medication adherence to dosing schedule (95% CI [-.030, -.002]) and global adherence (95% CI [-.038, -.003]) via a latent communication variable comprised of medication-specific and general parent-provider communication measures. Parent conscientiousness had an indirect effect on adherence to dosing schedule (95% CI [-.20, -.01]) and global adherence (95% CI [-.29, -.04]) via parent-provider communication. Conscientiousness also had an indirect effect on adherence to dosing schedule (BCa CI [-.106, -.003]) and global adherence (BCa CI [-.27, -.01)] via parent involvement. Findings support parent personality as a risk factor for pediatric nonadherence and suggest modifiable intervention targets.