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Preschool children with and without developmental delay: behaviour problems, parents' optimism and well-being
B L Baker1, J Blacher, M B Olsson
1Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. Baker@psych.ucla.edu
Children's behavior problems increase parenting stress. Dispositional optimism in mothers can buffer negative impacts on parental well-being, highlighting the importance of psychological interventions.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Parenting Research
Background:
- Children with intellectual disabilities exhibit higher rates of behavior problems, contributing to increased parenting stress.
- Parental well-being, encompassing depression and marital adjustment, is significantly affected by child behavior issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between child behavior problems and parental well-being.
- To examine the moderating role of dispositional optimism on this relationship.
Main Methods:
- 214 children were categorized as developmentally delayed, borderline, or non-delayed.
- Maternal and paternal well-being, alongside child behavior problems, were assessed at ages 3 and 4.
Main Results:
- Child behavior problems were strongly associated with parental depression and marital adjustment.
- Dispositional optimism moderated the impact of behavior problems on maternal well-being.
- Less optimistic mothers reported lower well-being when child behavior problems were high.
Conclusions:
- Preschool interventions should support parenting skills and psychological well-being.
- Focusing on enhancing parents' dispositional optimism alongside behavior management strategies may be beneficial.
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