Global Predictors of Child and Parent Well-Being: A Scoping Review to Inform Culturally Adaptive Frameworks

Abstract

Global frameworks for measuring child well-being enable international comparisons but show conceptual and methodological gaps. Indicators prioritizing cross-country comparability often focus on measurable, negative outcomes, with limited attention to positive or context-specific aspects. We aimed to identify empirically supported components of child, parent, and child–parent well-being worldwide and to compare them with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) child well-being components. We conducted a scoping review of studies published between January 2013 and December 2024 in MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ERIC, and the Social Sciences Citation Index. Eligible studies assessed factors related to child, parent, or child–parent well-being or reported the development and validation of relevant scales. Studies on emergencies, special exposures, or populations, non-empirical work, and papers in languages other than English or Japanese were excluded. Using descriptive content analysis, we generated a list of empirically reported well-being components and compared these with the UNICEF child well-being components. Of 6,139 records identified, 331 studies met the inclusion criteria. Data extraction yielded 670 well-being component entries, which were grouped into 59 categories. Forty-five denoted novel or expanded constructs, including partner support, parenting style, family cohesion, and parental health, whereas 14 matched with UNICEF indicators. Most evidence focused on the individual and relational levels, with limited attention to the contextual and policy dimensions. The pooled components provide a flexible evidence base adaptable to national, cultural, social, and policy contexts. Integrating parent and household modules in child surveys may enhance understanding of family processes and support context-sensitive monitoring of well-being.