Parental Cognitions and Adaptation to the Demands of Caring for a Child with an Intellectual Disability: A Review of the Literature and Implications for Clinical Interventions

Abstract

The manner in which parents adapt to the experience of caring for a child with an intellectual disability is generally thought to depend upon a range of variables typically conceptualized within multi-dimensional models. This review briefly describes three such models that share significant common features, incorporating child variables, environmental characteristics, and parental cognitive processes as contributors to parental coping styles or parenting stress. The effects of child and environmental characteristics on parenting stress and coping in parents of children with disabilities have been well documented. It is argued, however, that some aspects of cognitive processes in parents of these children have received less attention from researchers. In particular, there has been a large amount of research into parenting self-esteem, parental attributions, and parental locus of control with parents of other groups of children. This research is reviewed, and it is argued that further research into similar cognitions in parents of children with intellectual disabilities is warranted. Finally, the potential clinical implications of such research are examined in relation to behavioural interventions for children's behavioural difficulties. It is suggested that parental cognitions may influence the acceptability of such interventions and also be associated with their effectiveness.

Recognizing the role of parents in developmental outcomes: A systems approach to evaluating the child with developmental disabilities

“…The factors explaining why some individuals and families fare better than others, include parental gender, coping style, and parental genotype in explaining response differentiation [Hassall and Rose, 2005]. The differences between mothers and fathers and their experiences in raising a child with a developmental disability have been reasonably welldocumented across different child disabilities, with those differences being grounded in gender roles, particularly in relation to caregiving responsibilities [Seltzer et al, 2001;Hassall and Rose, 2005;Herring et al, 2006]. In comparison to fathers, mothers of children with disabilities typically report higher levels of stress [Herring et al, 2006], higher levels of depression [Olsson and Hwang, 2001], and increased caregiving responsibilities [Simmerman et al, 2001].…”

“…These child behavioral phenotypes may tax parents and families to different degrees and in different ways, resulting in condition-related differences in mental health and well-being outcomes in parents and other family members [Seligman and Darling, 1997;Hassall and Rose, 2005]. To illustrate, we present four different conditions each posing unique challenges to the adaptation process for parents and to assessment for professionals.…”

“…In contrast, some families deal effectively and even thrive in the face of the challenges associated with a child's developmental disability. The factors that lead to these differences in family response are not fully known [Hassall and Rose, 2005]. Family responses, however, can play an important role in their ability to implement recommended treatments for the child, to seek out additional resources for the child, and generally to support the child's development.…”

Do maternal attributions play a role in the acceptability of behavioural interventions for problem behaviour in children with autism spectrum disorders?

“…Nevertheless, it should be noted that individuals' perceptions of causes along the attributional dimensions may vary greatly between people (Weiner, 1985). An increasing number of researchers have begun to consider the specific role parental attributions may play in parental acceptability of an intervention proposed for their child (e.g., Hassall & Rose, 2005;Hoza et al, 2006;Mah & Johnston, 2008;Thornton & Calam, 2011;Williford, Graves, Shelton, & Woods, 2009). In particular, some researchers highlight a hypothesised relationship between parental attributions and treatment acceptability of parent-focused behavioural interventions for children's problem behaviour, in which parents who perceive the causes of the behaviour as being unrelated to any parental influences (e.g., child's disposition) are less likely to judge those interventions as acceptable (Hoza et al, 2006;Mah & Johnston, 2008).…”

Famílias de crianças em idade escolar com deficiência intelectual, dificuldades de aprendizagem ou desenvolvimento típico: comportamento, estresse materno, apoio social e percepção de impacto familiar

“…Contudo, embora esse resultado esteja em consonância com dados da literatura referentes às associações entre estresse parental e problemas de comportamento em famílias de crianças com deficiência intelectual (Butcher et al, 2008;Nachshen et al, 2005, Warfield, 2005 Pakenham et al (2005).Tais evidências expressaram-se no grupo das famílias de crianças com deficiência intelectual por: menores níveis de apoio social em alguns aspectos avaliados (tempo para descansar, apoio do marido, apoio para desabafos) -fator bB do modelo; maior percepção de impacto da criança referente aos problemas com os colegas, dificuldades de comunicação e comportamentais e limitações físicas -fator cC; presença de estresse (ainda que não tenha sido uma característica exclusiva das mães das crianças com deficiência intelectual) -fator xX; e correlação negativa entre algumas variáveis do apoio social e o estresse, evidenciando o papel protetivo que o apoio social pode assumir, ou promotor de recuperação da crise, conforme destacado na literatura (Butcher et al, 2008;McKenry & Price, 1994;Hassall & Rose, 2005;Pakenham et al, 2005;Warfield, 2005 2) comparar tais fatores entre pais e mães em cada grupo;…”