Families of Children with Disabilities: Normative Data and Other Considerations on Parenting Stress

Abstract

The parenting stress of families who have a child with a disability is an area receiving considerable research. The present study used a family strengths or "normality" perspective to investigate three issues regarding parent-related and child-related parenting stress, as measured by the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) (Abidin, 1990). A large sample (n -725) of families who had a young child with disabilities participated. A comparison of parent-related and child-related parenting stress between the sample of families with a child with disabilities and the PSI normative sample was conducted. The distribution of PSI scores for the sample of families of children with disabilities was examined for statistical normality, and normative data for these families were presented. An item analysis was conducted on child-related parenting stress to examine issues regarding its construct validity for families of children with disabilities. Issues regarding the use of stress measures and to the construct of child-related stress as these impact on early intervention activities are discussed.

A Case Review: Reframing School-Based Practices Using a Critical Perspective

“…They often feel they must avoid backstage murmurings as they come in for meetings, be perceived as helpful and engaged but not as "a squeaky wheel." These experiences contribute to parental stress (Blum, 2012;Deatrick, Knafl, & Walsh, 1988;Innocenti, Huh, & Boyce, 1992;McKeever & Miller, 2004;Smith, Oliver, & Innocenti, 2001). If we begin to accept parents as members of the team with a voice to be heard we must become aware of our own power as therapists and professionals.…”

Parenting Sensitivity, Parental Depression and Child Health: The Mediational Role of Parental Self-Efficacy

“…Most of the published literature on the parents of special needs children has focused on overall parental adjustment and well-being. Such parents reportedly experience high levels of anxiety (McGettigan et al, 1994; Roman et al, 1995), depressive symptomatology (Bennett and Slade, 1991;Bristol et al, 1988;McGettigan et al, 1994;Miller ef al., 1992;Roman et al, 1995), psychological distress (Goldberg et al, 1986), elevated discrete life stressors (Beckman, 1991;Friedrich and Friedrich, 1981;Hanson and Hanline, 1990;Innocenti et al, 1992) and marital discord (Cmic et al, 1983a;Friedrich and Friedrich, 1981).…”

Motinų, auginančių raidos sutrikimų turinčius vaikus, motinystės streso ypatumai

“…Tai siejama su vaiko elgesio problemomis, sutrikimo specifika ir savarankiškumo lygiu (Innocenti, Huh, & Boyce, 1992;DeaterDeckard, 2004;Kliever, 1997). Didesnis stresas susijęs su motinų nekompetencija gali rodyti, kad vaikų, turinčių raidos sutrikimų, motinos jaučia, jog buvimas motina reikalauja daugiau jėgų, nei jos tikėjosi, dėl vaiko elgesio ir nepakankamų gebėjimų jį kontroliuoti, dėl pasitikėjimo savo jėgomis stokos jos gali suabejoti savo, kaip motinos, kompetencija, jausti specifinių žinių trūkumą auklėdamos specialios priežiūros reikalaujantį vaiką.…”