Assessing Parenting Stress in Multiple Samples of Children With Special Needs (CSN)

• Published in: Families systems & health Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 435 - 449
• Main Authors: Spratt, Eve G, Saylor, Conway F, Macias, Michelle M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Rochester Educational Publishing Foundation 01-12-2007; American Psychological Association, Inc; American Psychological Association
• Subjects: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Care and treatment; Child development deviations; Congenital Disorders; Developmental Disabilities; Exceptional children; Externalization; Female; Human; Internalization; Learning Disabilities; Male; Outpatient; Parental Stress; Parenting; Parents; Parents & parenting; Pediatrics; Psychological aspects; Regression analysis; Resource Allocation; Sick children; Social Support; Special Needs; Stress; United States; parenting stress; developmental disabilities; externalizing; family support; internalizing; learning disabilities; family resources; neural tube defects
• ISSN: 1091-7527; 1939-0602
• DOI: 10.1037/1091-7527.25.4.435

Parenting stress (PS) and its correlates were examined in four pediatric outpatient and clinical research samples in children ages 4 through 12, who had a variety of health, developmental, behavioral, and neurological problems (designated children with special needs [CSN]). Participants came from four different clinic samples: (a) an interdisciplinary clinic for children with combined developmental, behavioral, neurological, and emotional problems (DBC, n = 57); (b) children with intraventricular hemorrhage documented at birth (IVH, n = 70); (c) children with learning and/or attention problems (LD/ADHD, n = 54); and (d) children with neural tube defects (NTD, n = 45). In multiple regression analyses, externalizing, and/or internalizing behavior problems emerged as consistent, and in some cases, the sole correlates of overall PS and parental distress. Perceived inadequacy of family resources and maternal support were also related to PS in some samples. In the DBC, IVH, and NTD samples, analyses of variance revealed PS to be highest in parents of children with behavior problems only or combined cognitive deficits and behavior problems. Having a child with neither behavior problems nor cognitive impairment, or cognitive impairment alone was associated with lower PS. There is a need for collaboration and consultation between clinics serving CSN and qualified mental health professionals if PS in these families is to be adequately evaluated and treated.