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Parent-related stress of male and female carers of adolescents with intellectual disabilities and carers of children within the general population: a cross-sectional comparison
- Authors:
- PATTON Kiri A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 31(1), 2018, pp.51-61.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: Carers of children with intellectual disability show high rates of parent-related stress and are at an increased risk for deleterious physical and mental health. Materials and Methods: This study investigated the relationship between demographic and social characteristics and parenting stress, within two different cross-sectional samples of carers: those who care for an adolescent with an intellectual disability and carers from a population based sample. Participants were 1152 carers from the Household Income and Labour Dynamic in Australia study and 284 carers of adolescents with intellectual disabilities from the Ask study. Results and Conclusions: The results supported previous research suggesting carers of children with intellectual disabilities experience high parent-related stress. The results also support the buffer model of social support, as high social support was related to lower parent-related stress. Self-rated prosperity, financial pressure and relationship status were also related to lower levels of parent-related stress. (Publisher abstract)
The mediating impact of coping style on stress perception for parents of individuals with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- PEER Justin W., HILLMAN Stephen B.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 16(1), March 2012, pp.45-59.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
Previous research reveals that parents of individuals with intellectual disabilities experience more stress than parents of persons of normal development. Several factors may be associated with the level of stress experienced by these parents, including their personality traits (such as their level of optimism), the severity of the child’s disability, and the amount of social support they receive. How a parent copes with stress could ultimately determine whether or not stress is experienced. For this study, an indirect pathway model was developed to examine the mediating influence of coping style on the relationship between social support, severity of child disability, parental optimism, and stress perception for parents of children with intellectual disabilities. The study participants were 127 parents of individuals receiving mental health services through an agency in Southeastern Michigan. The participants completed a survey contained a number of standardised instruments. The results indicate that coping style partially mediates the relationship between social support and stress perception for these parents. Implications for practice are discussed.
Psychological well-being of caregivers of children with intellectual disabilities: using parental stress as a mediating factor
- Authors:
- CRAMM J.M., NIEBOER A.P.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 15(2), June 2011, pp.101-113.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
Parental stress has known negative affects on caregivers’ psychological well-being, and increases risk for children with disabilities being placed in the care of others. Acknowledgment of means to ease caregiving burdens should guide policymaking and will help to provide better and tailored support and intervention for the children. This study characterized caregivers of children with intellectual disabilities who were about to seek outside support and care, and identified the conditions under which psychological well-being and parental stress were affected using parental stress as a mediating factor. Participants were from four Dutch cities, and included 147 parents who needed outside care and support. Findings revealed that parental stress and the child’s depressive feelings strongly affected psychological well-being. Also, an indirect relation of restricted caregiver social activities through parental stress was found. The authors concluded that to protect psychological well-being of caregivers, support services should address depressive feelings among children with intellectual disabilities and help enable an increase in caregivers’ social activity.
Predictors of depressive symptoms in primary caregivers of young children with or at risk for developmental delay
- Authors:
- FELDMAN M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 51(8), August 2007, pp.606-619.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
In this study the authors examined Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores in 178 primary caregivers (mainly biological mothers) who had 2-year-old children with or at risk for developmental delay (DD) owing to: (a) low birthweight, prematurity or multiple birth (n = 58), (b) other known reasons (e.g. Down syndrome, spina bifida) (n = 67), or (c) unknown reasons (n = 69). The authors found that 20% (n = 35) of the caregivers scored above the BDI clinical cut-off for depression. Analysis of variance revealed that caregivers with elevated BDI scores had higher child behaviour problem and escape-avoidance coping scores, and lower social support and parent self-efficacy, compared with caregivers without depressive symptoms. Caregivers with children who had DD for unknown reasons had higher BDI scores than caregivers of the other two groups of children. Regression analyses showed that child behaviour problems, escape-avoidance coping strategies and social support predicted caregiver BDI scores, but caregiver self-efficacy only did so when entered independently of social support. Only social support mediated and (marginally) moderated the relationship between child behaviour problems and caregiver depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that early intervention programmes should carefully consider the interaction of child characteristics (e.g. diagnosis and behaviour problems), caregiver resources (e.g. coping strategies and social support), and parental mental health and mood when planning and tailoring services for families of children with or at risk for DD.
Moderators of stress in parents of children with autism
- Authors:
- DUNN Michael E., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 37(1), February 2001, pp.39-52.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Parents of children with autism experience more stress and are more susceptible to negative outcomes than parents of children with other disabilities. This American study examines the relationship between stressors, social support, locus of control, coping styles, and negative outcomes among parents of children with autism. Fifty-eight parents completed surveys. Results indicated that several coping styles corresponded to negative outcomes. Furthermore, the relationship between stressors and negative outcomes was moderated by social support and coping style. Results are discussed in relation to applications for clinical practice.
Later life for adults with intellectual disability: a time of opportunity and vulnerability
- Author:
- BIGBY Christine
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 22(2), June 1997, pp.97-108.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Old age is often regarded as a time of reduced functional capacities, decreasing community participation and narrowing horizons. Such views are sometimes reflected in the nature of programmes and services, and the more limited expectations that service providers hold about people. This article reports on the findings of a qualitative study of the later life experiences of older people (over 55 years) with intellectual disability. Conclusions are drawn about the ways in which later life opportunities can be safeguarded and vulnerabilities reduced through the development of appropriate policies and services for older people with intellectual disability.
Aging parents of adult children with mental retardation: is age a factor in their perception of burdens or gratifications?
- Authors:
- MCDERMOTT Suzanne, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 27(1/2), 1996, pp.133-148.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This article describes a study of ageing parents of adult children with learning difficulties. The challenges faced by ageing parents are discussed from the perspective of life-span developmental psychology. Examines whether there are differences based on age of parent in caregiver burdens and caregiver gratifications. No significant differences on the basis of age were found and analyses of the results suggest that age of parent may be less helpful in understanding the experiences of life-long caregiving than family context and history. Recommendations for practice and policy are discussed.
The structure of care networks in families with mentally handicapped adult dependents
- Author:
- GRANT Gordon
- Publisher:
- University College of North Wales. Department of Social Theory and Institutions
- Publication year:
- 1986
- Pagination:
- 24p., tables, bibliogs.
- Place of publication:
- Bangor
-
Moving on without parents: planning, transitions and sources of support for middle-aged and older adults with intellectual disability
- Author:
- BIGBY Christine
- Publisher:
- MacLennan & Petty
- Publication year:
- 2000
- Pagination:
- 263p.,tables,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Sydney, NSW
Examines the nature and success of parental planning for the future care of adult children with intellectual disability. Begins by reviewing existing research on parental planning and sources of support for people with intellectual disabilities in later life; then details the results of a study of the transition from parental care and subsequent care experiences of people aged 55 or over. Examines the nature of parental plans, the process of transition from parental care and the long term success of parental plans. Explores, with case vignettes, the current situation of older people, their access to services and their sources of informal support. Concludes by examining policy and practice implications.