Parenting Stress Among Caregivers of Children With Bipolar Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

Objective Caregivers of psychiatrically impaired children experience considerable parenting stress. However, no research has evaluated parenting stress within the context of pediatric bipolar spectrum disorders (BPSD). Thus, the aim of this investigation was to identify predictors and moderators of stress among caregivers in the Longitudinal Assessment of Manic Symptoms (LAMS) study. Method Participants included 640 children and their caregivers in the LAMS cohort. Children had a mean age of 9.4±1.9 years (68% male, 23% BPSD); parents had a mean age of 36.5±8.3 years (84% mothers). Results Children with BPSD had more service utilization, psychiatric diagnoses, mood and anxiety symptoms, and functional impairment, but fewer disruptive behavior disorders. Caregivers of children with BPSD were more likely than caregivers of children without BPSD to have a partner, elevated depressive symptoms, antisocial tendencies, and parenting stress (Cohen’s d=.49). For the whole sample, higher child IQ, mania, anxiety, disruptive behavior, and caregiver depression predicted increased parenting stress; maternal conduct disorder predicted lower stress. Child anxiety and disruptive behavior were associated with elevated caregiver stress only for non-BPSD children. Conclusions Caregivers of children with BPSD experience significant burden and thus require specialized, family-focused interventions. As stress was also elevated, to a lesser degree, among depressed caregivers of children with higher IQ, mania, anxiety, and disruptive behavior, these families may need additional supports as well. Though parents with conduct/antisocial problems evidenced lower stress, these difficulties should be monitored. Thus, parenting stress should be evaluated and addressed in the treatment of childhood mental health problems, especially BPSD.

Validation of the Caregiver Skills (CASK) scale in Catalonia: Concordance between caregivers in attitudes and behaviours

“…This fact may affect their capacity to remain objective and emotionally more distant in order not to become overwhelmed by the repercussions of the ED. Sharing duties between parents and training caregivers to adopt a more balanced emotional attitude towards the pathology may aid caregivers and patients with EDs alike (Perez Algorta et al, ). On the other hand, one other explanation may be related to differing personality traits between parents (Amianto, Daga, Bertorello, & Fassino, ; Amianto, Ercole, Abbate Daga, & Fassino, ; Amianto, Ercole, Marzola, Abbate Daga, & Fassino, ).…”

“…Comparison of the Caregiver Skills Scale dimension scores between caregivers not to become overwhelmed by the repercussions of the ED. Sharing duties between parents and training caregivers to adopt a more balanced emotional attitude towards the pathology may aid caregivers and patients with EDs alike(Perez Algorta et al, 2017).…”

Genetic and Environmental Influences on Self-Reported Cognitive Functioning: Associations of Diverse Measures of Stress across the FMR1 CGG Repeat Range

“…Parenting stress has also been observed at increased rates in parents of children with other health conditions. For instance, having a child with a chronic physical (e.g., epilepsy) or mental health (e.g., bipolar disorder) condition has been associated with higher parenting stress compared to the parenting stress of raising typically developing children (37)(38)(39). Parents of adult children with developmental or mental health conditions have been exposed to this unique stressor for many years (28) and have been shown to have particularly high levels of parenting stress.…”

Genetic and Environmental Influences on Self-Reported Cognitive Functioning: Associations of Diverse Measures of Stress across the FMR1 CGG Repeat Range

“…Parenting stress may also be observed at increased rates in parents of children with other health conditions. For instance, having a child with a chronic physical (e.g., epilepsy) or mental health (e.g., bipolar disorder) condition has been associated with higher parenting stress compared to the parenting stress of raising typically developing children (41)(42)(43). Parents of adult children with developmental or mental health conditions have been exposed to this unique stressor for many years (32) and have been shown to have particularly high levels of parenting stress.…”