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Parenting stress and child behaviour problems among parents with intellectual disabilities: the buffering role of
M Meppelder1, M Hodes1,2, S Kef1
1FPP, Clinical Child and Family Studies, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Insights
Parents with intellectual disabilities (ID) experience more stress related to their children. Strong social support networks can reduce this parenting stress, particularly when children have behavioral issues.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Disability Studies
- Family Studies
Background:
- Parents with intellectual disabilities (ID) face heightened risks of parenting stress.
- Understanding factors that mitigate this stress is crucial for supporting these families.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate resources that may moderate the link between child behavior problems and parenting stress in parents with ID.
- To examine the roles of parental adaptive functioning, financial resources, and social support networks.
Main Methods:
- 134 parents with ID and their children (ages 1-7) participated.
- Data collected via parent questionnaires on stress, finances, and support.
- Child behavior and parental functioning assessed by teachers and care workers.
Main Results:
- Parents reported higher stress concerning child-related issues than their own situation.
- Child behavior problems correlated with child-related parenting stress.
- Larger support networks lessened the association between child behavior problems and child-related stress.
- Financial hardship was linked to lower parenting stress, but did not moderate the association.
Conclusions:
- Parenting stress in parents with ID is primarily child-focused.
- Limited social support exacerbates the impact of child behavior problems on parenting stress.
Background:
Parents with intellectual disabilities (ID) are at risk for high levels of parenting stress. The present study evaluated resources, including parental adaptive functioning, financial resources and access to a support network, as moderators of the association between child behaviour problems and parenting stress.
Method:
A total of 134 parents with ID and their children (ages 1-7 years) were recruited from 10 Dutch care organisations. Questionnaires were administered to the parents to obtain information on parenting stress in the parent and child domain, financial resources and their support network. Teachers and care workers reported on child behaviour problems and parental adaptive functioning, respectively.
Results:
Parents experienced more stress with regard to their children than towards their own functioning and situation. Parenting stress was less in parents who were not experiencing financial hardship. Child behaviour problems were associated with high child-related parenting stress, not parent-related parenting stress. Large support networks decreased the association between child behaviour problems and child-related parenting stress. Financial resources did not significantly moderate the association.
Conclusions:
Parenting stress among parents with ID is focused on problems with the child, especially when little social support is available.
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