Open Access

REVIEW

A Double-Edged Sword: A Scoping Review of the Mental Health Aspects of Parentification

Istvan Berkes^1,*, Bettina Piko^2,*

1 Doctoral School of Education, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6722, Hungary
2 Department of Behavioral Sciences, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6722, Hungary

* Corresponding Authors: Istvan Berkes. Email: ; Bettina Piko. Email:

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion 2025, 27(11), 1627-1643. https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2025.071931

Received 15 August 2025; Accepted 05 November 2025; Issue published 28 November 2025

Abstract

Objectives: Parentification, a role reversal where children assume age-inappropriate duties in the family, is a significant childhood adversity often linked to disrupted developmental trajectories and poor mental health outcomes. Yet the complexity of parentification, influenced by various contextual factors, obscures a comprehensive understanding of its psychological consequences and its mental health aspects. The paper aims to map up-to-date research, synthesize key findings, and identify critical knowledge gaps. Methods: To that end, a systematic search was performed in Scopus, PsycINFO, PubMed, and EBSCO databases, and data was extracted and reviewed by two reviewers. The search yielded 29 studies, including 9 qualitative, 1 mixed, and 19 quantitative studies that examined the mental health aspects of parentification, from various countries of origin. Results: Parentification, often arising from contexts like parental illness or substance abuse, is linked to varied mental and physical health outcomes. These outcomes are strongly moderated by the adolescent’s subjective perception of their role and the presence of protective factors like strong sibling relationships. The review also identified a clear pathway for the intergenerational transmission of parentification, where a parent’s own history was found to impact their parenting cognitions. Conclusion: This review concludes that future longitudinal research should move beyond negative or positive outcomes of parentification and investigate the mediating and moderating mechanisms that play a crucial role in the outcomes. Furthermore, the absence of prevalence studies on parentification is a notable limitation, and as a result, the size of the affected population remains unknown. Further research is also needed to identify potential protective factors in various circumstances.

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Keywords

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