Trajectories of Parenting Stress among Mothers and Fathers of Children with Developmental Disabilities

Abstract

Parents of children with developmental disabilities (DD) face greater caregiving demands than other parents, which may lead to heightened levels of stress. The problematic behavior and functional limitations of the child with DD have been found to contribute to parenting stress (Baker et al., 2002; Beckman, 1991). Despite heightened demands, many parents successfully adapt to raising a child with DD. A goal of recent research has been to identify resources and supports that explain the considerable variability in parental adjustment (Neece & Baker, 2008). This dissertation examined trajectories of parenting stress among mothers (N=147) and fathers (N=110) of children with diverse developmental disabilities, from their child's early years (age 3) through adolescence (age 15). Using hierarchical linear modeling, stress was found to increase from early to middle childhood and subsequently decrease from middle childhood to adolescence. Characteristics of the child with DD were found to contribute to parents' stress, with higher behavior problems and lower functional skills predicting greater stress. Parent resources and supports were also found to relate to parenting stress. Greater social support, use of adaptive coping strategies, and more positive perceptions of the family climate predicted lower stress. An additional model was conducted using a modified hierarchical linear modeling approach to examine the role of child stressors and family resources and supports within parenting dyads. The findings of this study contribute to the limited literature on patterns of change in stress among parents, particularly fathers, of children with DD. Following these results, interventions for families of children with DD should aim to reduce child-related stressors and promote parent resources and supports.