Social support and mastery influence the association between stress and poor physical health in parents caring for children with developmental disabilities

Abstract

To date, much of the research linking the stress of caring for children with developmental disabilities (e.g. Autism & Down syndrome) with parental health outcomes have tended to concentrate on mental health with less attention paid to the physical health consequences.Thus, this study sought to explore the psychosocial predictors of poor physical health in these caring parents. One hundred and sixty-four parents (108 caregivers and 58 control parents) completed measures of stress, child problem behaviours, social support, mastery and physical health. Parents of children with developmental disabilities had poorer physical health compared to control parents. Stress and mastery, but not social support and problem behaviours, were significant predictors of poor physical health within caring parents for children with developmental disabilities. However, the association between mastery and physical health was mediated by perceived stress such that those parents who were higher on mastery reported less stress and better physical health; furthermore, the association between stress and physical health was moderated also by social support; those parents high on social support and low in stress had better physical health. These results indicate that the paths between psychosocial factors and poor physical health in the caring parents are working synergistically rather than in isolation. They also underscore the importance of providing multi-component interventions that offer a variety of psychosocial resources to meet the precise needs of the parents.

Child problem behaviours are associated with obesity in parents caring for children with developmental disabilities

“…The overall scale has been shown to be reliable (Cronbach's α = .76) and the scale has been used as a predictor of both mental and physical health in families of children with developmental disabilities (Cantwell et al, 2014;Gallagher & Hannigan, 2014).…”

“…Autism, dyspraxia/attention hyperactivity disorder) (George, Shacter, & Johnson, 2011). This is despite the plethora of evidence showing that these caring parents are at greater risk of poor physical, physiological and psychological health than parents of children without disabilities (Cantwell, Muldoon, & Gallagher, 2014;Gallagher & Whiteley, 2013;Miodrag & Hodapp, 2010;Singer, 2006). …”

The psychophysiological impact of childhood autism spectrum disorder on siblings

“…Indeed, the challenges of caring for a child with a DD, which include financial hardship (Kogan et al, 2008), social isolation (Yantzi, Rosenberg, & McKeever, 2006), negotiating a fragmented service system (Griffith & Hastings, 2013), stigma and social judgement (Cantwell, Muldoon, & Gallagher, in press), far outstrip those of parenting a neuro-typical child. That caregivers of children with a DD experience increased psychological distress has been widely evidenced, with studies reporting on higher levels of psychological symptoms such as perceived stress (Cantwell, Muldoon, & Gallagher, 2014), hopelessness (Bandeira et al, 2010), anxiety (Ruiz-Robledillo & MoyaAlbiol, 2013) and depression (Cantwell et al, in press;Smith & Grzywacz, 2014). In addition, compared with parents of neuro-typical children, caregivers' levels of anxiety and depression were found to be more likely to satisfy criterion for clinical mood disorder (Gallagher, Phillips, Oliver, & Carroll, 2008).…”

Les mesures de soutien privilégiées par les parents immigrants d’un enfant mineur qui présente des besoins spéciaux : une étude de la portée

“…En première ligne, les parents et leur réseau social constituent les principaux acteurs du care auprès de l'enfant présentant des besoins particuliers (Neely-Barnes et Dia, 2008 ;Dempsey et al, 2009). Non sans conséquences, les difficultés de l'enfant affectent la sphère familiale (Neely-Barnes et Dia, 2008), surtout lorsque des troubles du comportement apparaissent (Cantwell, Muldoon et Gallagher, 2014 ;Stuttard et al, 2014). Le stress ressenti par les parents s'avère souvent de grande intensité (Pelchat, Lefebvre et Levert, 2005 ;Dempsey et al, 2009), car des répercussions financières importantes se font sentir par des coûts directs (transport, gardiennage, équipement) et indirects (épuisement, perte d'emploi) (Dionne et al, 2006 ;NeelyBarnes et Dia, 2008 ;Whiting, 2013).…”

“…Le stress ressenti par les parents s'avère souvent de grande intensité (Pelchat, Lefebvre et Levert, 2005 ;Dempsey et al, 2009), car des répercussions financières importantes se font sentir par des coûts directs (transport, gardiennage, équipement) et indirects (épuisement, perte d'emploi) (Dionne et al, 2006 ;NeelyBarnes et Dia, 2008 ;Whiting, 2013). D'autres conséquences s'observent à travers l'altération de l'état de santé physique et psychique des parents (Whiting, 2013 ;Cantwell, Muldoon et Gallagher, 2014 ;Stuttard et al, 2014). Les relations familiales et de couple sont fragilisées par la présence d'un enfant avec des besoins spéciaux (Dionne et al, 2006 ;Whiting, 2013 ;Stuttard et al, 2014).…”