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Adaptation of parents in relation to their 6-month-old infant's type of disability

D Pelchat1, N Ricard, J M Bouchard

  • 1Département de Psychiatrie, Université de Montréal, Canada.

Child: Care, Health and Development
|September 24, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Parents of infants with Down's syndrome (DS) and congenital heart disease (CHD) experience higher parenting stress and psychological distress. These findings highlight the impact of infant disability type on parental adaptation and well-being.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatric Health
  • Family Studies

Background:

  • Parental adaptation to an infant's disability is a critical area of study.
  • Understanding the factors influencing parental stress is essential for support.
  • Previous research indicates varying levels of stress based on disability type.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine parental adaptation to infants with different disabilities.
  • To compare parenting stress, stress appraisal, and psychological distress among groups.
  • To identify specific disability types associated with higher parental burden.

Main Methods:

  • A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from parents.
  • Participants included parents of infants with Down's syndrome (DS), congenital heart disease (CHD), cleft lip/palate (CLP), and no disability (ND).
  • Data were collected 6 months post-birth, assessing parenting stress, stress appraisal, and psychological distress.

Main Results:

  • Parents of infants with DS and CHD reported significantly higher parenting stress and psychological distress compared to parents of infants with CLP or no disability.
  • Mothers generally reported higher stress and distress levels than fathers.
  • The pattern of differences across diagnostic groups was consistent for both mothers and fathers.

Conclusions:

  • Infant disability type is a significant factor in parental adaptation and psychological well-being.
  • Targeted interventions may be necessary for parents of infants with DS and CHD.
  • Findings inform theoretical models of parental stress and guide clinical support strategies.

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