Parenting stress and depression in children with mental retardation and developmental disabilities

Although many types of behavioral and emotional disorders are prevalent in children with developmental delays, the phenomenology of childhood depression in this population remains poorly understood. This study examined the relationships among symptoms of depression, child problem behaviors, and parenting stress in a sample of 29 children with developmental delays. Results supported the usefulness of the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) in assessing depression in these children initially reported by Matson, Barrett, and Helsel (1988). Parent ratings from the CDI were significantly associated with maternal depression, an index of DSM-III-R depression criteria, and negative self-image, anxiety, and conduct problems in children. A matched subsample of children (n = 12) with high versus low depression ratings revealed significant differences in total scores from the Parenting Stress Index (Abidin, 1986) and the index of DSM-III-R depression criteria. Together, these data suggest that children with developmental delays exhibit a similar pattern of symptoms and associated characteristics to those found in normal children with diagnoses of depression.