Parenting-related stress and psychological distress in mothers of toddlers with autism spectrum disorders

Abstract

Background Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are at risk for higher stress levels than parents of children with other developmental disabilities and typical development. Recent advances in early diagnosis have resulted in younger children being diagnosed with ASDs but factors associated with parent stress in this age group are not well understood. Aims The present study examined parenting-related stress and psychological distress in mothers of toddlers with ASD, developmental delay without ASD (DD), and typical development. The impact of child problem behavior and daily living skills on parenting-stress and psychological distress were further investigated. Methods Participants were part of a larger research study on early ASD intervention. Parent self-report of parenting-related stress and psychological distress was utilized. Results Parents of toddlers with ASD demonstrated increased parenting-related stress compared with parents of toddlers with DD and typical development. However, psychological distress did not differ significantly between the groups. Child behavior problems, but not daily living skills emerged as a significant predictor of parenting-related stress and psychological distress. This was true for both mothers of children with ASD and DD. Conclusions These finding suggest that parents’ abilities to manage and reduce behavior problems is a critical target for interventions for young children with ASD and DD in order to improve child functioning and decrease parenting-related stress.

Parent and Family Outcomes of PEERS: A Social Skills Intervention for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…Parents of children with ASD experience higher levels of parenting stress than parents of typically developing children (e.g., Duarte et al 2005;Hayes and Watson 2012;Hoffman et al 2009;Rao and Beidel 2009) as well as parents of children with other developmental disabilities (e.g., Estes et al 2009Estes et al , 2012Schieve et al 2007Schieve et al , 2011. This is concerning given that high levels of parenting stress are associated with diminished child outcomes over time following intervention (Osborne et al 2008a, b).…”

Development of the Parent Form of the Preschool Children’s Communication Skills Scale and Comparison of the Communication Skills of Children with Normal Development and with Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…Moreover, it has been suggested that children's relationship with their parents is more effective than their relationship with their teachers in terms of their adaptation to the preschool environment (Pianta, Nimetz, & Bennett, 1997). In particular when it comes to evaluating preschool children's deficiencies, parents play a key role in contributing to the development of their children by selecting appropriate remedial educational programs (Bloch & Weinstein, 2009;Estes et al, 2013). The parent form of the Preschool Children's Communication Skills Scale is considered beneficial for identifying children's fundamental communication skills and preparing suitable educational programs.…”

The Role of Difficult Childhood Behaviors on Intimate Partner Violence

“…There is a positive correlation between difficult childhood behavior and caregiver frustration and dissatisfaction [28,32]. Developmental disability in a child can also have a significant impact on caregiver stress [33,34], often resulting in severe complications in the caregivers' primary relationship [35,36]. In summary, maladaptive characteristics in children are a major factor in caregiver stress [37].…”