Keywords
maternal age
developmental delay
child disability
early intervention needs
How to Cite
Abstract
In the scientific literature it is common to find a correlation between the birth of a child with developmental delay or at risk of suffering from it with a higher level of stress in the parents. The aim of this study was to determine which variables most influence the stress experienced by parents of children with early care needs. Method. Four hundred and six parents of 239 children with early care needs, collaborated in this cross-sectional research. The Parenting Stress Index (Abidin, 2012) was administered to measure the stress experienced by the families. Results. A linear negative correlation was found between mothers' age and perceived stress. In addition, the families perceived more stress when children were diagnosed with conduct disorder or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Conclusion. The age of the mothers and the diagnosis of the child are variables that must be taken into account when carrying out a comprehensive intervention on the family unit.
Abidin, R. R. (2012). Parenting Stress Index: Professional manual, 4th ed. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.
Barak-Levy, Y. y Atzaba-Poria, N. (2015). The effects of familial risk and parental resolution on parenting a child with mild intellectual disability. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 47, 106-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2015.09.008
Bozkurt, G., Uysal, G. y Düzkaya D. S. (2019). Examination of care burden and stress coping styles of parents of children with autism spectrumm disorder. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 47, 142-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2019.05.005
Bitsika, V. y Sharpley, C. F. (2021). Symptom profiles and correlates of anxiety and depression among parents of autistic girls and boys. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 111 (en prensa). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103874
Carter, B., Arnott, J., Simons, J. y Bray, L. (2017). Developing a Sense of Knowing and Acquiring the Skills to Manage Pain in Children with Profound Cognitive Impairments: Mothers´s Pespectives. Pain Research and Management, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2514920
Chetcuti. L., Uljarevic, M., Ellis-Davies, K., Hardan, A., Whitehouse, A., Hedley, D., Putman, S., Hudry, K. y Prior, M. R. (2021). Temperament in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 85, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2021.10198
Dardas, L. A. y Ahmad, M. M. (2013). Psychometric properties of the Parenting Stress Index with parents of children with autistic disorder. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 58(6), 560-571. https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.12053
Dempsey, I. y Keen, D. (2009). A Review of Processes and Outcomes in Family-Centered Services for Children with a Disability. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 28(1), 42-52. https://doi.org/10.1177/0271121408316699
Fairthorne, J., Hammond, G., Bourke, J., Jacoby, P. y Leonard, H. (2014). Early mortality and primary causes of death in mothers of children with intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder: a retrospective cohort study. PlosOne, 9(12), e113430. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0113430
Falk. N. H., Norris, K. y Quinn, M. G. (2014). The factors predicting stress, anxiety and depression in the parents of children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(12), 3185-3203. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2189-4
Gray, P. H., Edwards, D. M., O´Callaghan, M. J. y Cuskelly, M. (2012). Parenting stress in mothers of preterm infants during early infancy. Early Human Development, 88, 45-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2011.06.014
Gray, P. H., Edwards, D. M., O´Callaghan, M. J., Cuskelly, M. y Gibbons, K. (2013). Parenting stress in mothers of preterm infants- Influence of development, temperament and maternal depression. Early Human Development, 89, 625-629. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2013.04.005
Lazarus, R. S. (1993). From psychological stress to the emotions: A History of Changing Outlooks. Annual Review Psychology, 44(1), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ps.44.020193.000245
Maquis, S. M., McGrail, K. y Hayes, M. V. (2020). Mental health outcomes among parents of a child who has a developmental disability: Comparing different types of developmental disability. Disability and Health Journal, 13, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2019.100874
Mazzucchelli, T., Hodges, J., Kane, R., Sofronoff. K., Sanders. M., Einfeld. S., Tonge. B. y Gray, K. (2018). Parenting and family adjustment scales (PAFAS): validation of a brief parent report measure for use with families who have a child with a developmental disability. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 72, 140-151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2017.10.011
Nam, S. y Chun, J. (2014). Influencing factors on mothers´s parenting style of young children at risk for developmental delay in South Korea: The mediating effects of parenting stress. Children and Youth Services Review, 38, 81-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2013.11.008
Raina, P., O´Donnell, M., Rosenbaum, P., Brehaut, J., Walter, S. D., Russell, D., Swinton, M., Zhu, B. y Wood, E. (2005). The health and well-being of caregivers of children with cerebral palsy. Pediatrics, 115(6), 626-636. https://doi:10.1542/peds.2004-1689
Reed, P., Picton, L., Grainger, N. y Osborne, L. A. (2016). Impact of diagnostic practices on the self-reported health of mothers of recently diagnosed children with ASD. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(9), 888-899. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13090888
Romero-González, M., Marín, E., Guzmán-Parra, J., Navas, P., Aguilar, J. M., Lara P. y Barbancho, M. A. (2020). Relationship between parental stress and psychological distress and emotional and behavioural problems in pre-school children with autistic spectrum disorder. Anales de Pediatría, 94(2), 99-106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anpedi.2020.03.012
Salomone, E., Leadbitter, K., Aldred, C., Barrett, B., Byford, S., Charman, T. y The, P. C. (2018). The association between child and family characteristics and the mental health and wellbeing of caregivers of children with autism in mid-childhood. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48(4), 1189–1198. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3392-x.
Shepherd, D., Landon, J., Goedeke, S. y Meads, Jake. (2021). Stress and distress in New Zealand parents caring for a child with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 111. https://doi.org/1016/j.ridd.2021.103875
Vela, E. y Suárez, J. M. (2020). Resiliencia, satisfacción y situación de las familias con hijos/as con y sin discapacidad como predictores del estrés familiar. Ansiedad y Estrés. En prensa. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anyes.2020.03.001
Villamizar-Carvajal, B., Vargas-Porras, C. y García-Corzo, J. R. (2018). Decrease of premature mother´s stress levels in the intensive care unit. Enfermería Intensiva, 29(3), 113-120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enfi.2017.12.004
Widarsson, M., Engström, G., Rosenblad, A., Kerstis, B., Edlund, B. y Lundberg, P. (2012). Parental stress in early parenthood among mothers and fathers in Sweden, Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 27, 839-847. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6712.2012.01088.x
Yorke, I., White, P., Weston, A., Rafla, M., Charman, T., Simonoff, E. (2018). The association between emotional and behavioural problems in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Psychological Distress in their parents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Autism and Development Disorders, 48, 3393-3415. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3605-y
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 Encarnación Hernández Pérez, José Antonio Rabadán Rubio, José Antonio Rabadán García