‘Masculinity feels less relevant to me now’: masculinity perceptions of fathers of children with neurodevelopmental disorders

Parents of children with disabilities often struggle to balance work, caregiving for their child, and family responsibilities. Previous studies have not sufficiently focused on fathers' experiences in balancing work with their family commitments. Informed by boundary theory, this study examines how fathers experience the integration of work and family and the coping strategies they use to enable this balance. The research was conducted using a qualitative phenomenological approach. Semistructured interviews were held with 12 fathers of young children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The fathers reported challenges that hindered their ability to integrate and balance work and family life. Alongside these difficulties, they emphasized positive elements and acceptance of their fatherhood while describing cognitions and behaviors that helped them cope with the challenges of work-family balance. The findings highlight the vulnerability of fathers of children with disabilities in the workplace and the significant challenges they face in balancing work and family life. This highlights their need for support and, more broadly, the need for changes in policy and legislation related to the employment of fathers of children with disabilities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Introduction: Parenting is a major form of stress, especially in children with special needs. Chronic conditions of disability, may be medical, psychological or emotional, make extra demands on parents, resulting in stress. Objective : i) To evaluate parenting stress among parents (mother & father) of children with special needs and normal children. ii) To compare parenting stress among fathers of special children and normal children. Materials and Methods: Parenting stress was assessed using Sheldon Cohen Perceived Stress Scale questionnaire on i) Parents of 10 0 special needs[study group (i)] and 10 0 normal [control group (ii)] children aged between 5 and 12 years. ii) Fathers of 100 special needs children [study group (ii)] and fathers of 100 normal children [control group (ii)]. The Questionnaire was provided to both parents, they were seated separately in order to avoid bias. Statistical analysis was done using Unpaired t-test. Results : i) The study group scored higher as compared to the control group with their means and standard deviations being (18.914 + 5.24) and (16.12 + 4.18) respectively. The statistical value of significance (p value) is 0.000 9. ii) The fathers of children with special needs scored higher than fathers of normal children with their means and standard deviations being (18.61 + 4.78) and (16.43 + 3.32) respectively, with the p value being 0.02. Conclusion: The parents of special children had significantly higher parenting stress levels as compared to the parents of normal children and fathers of special need children were more stressed than the fathers of normal children. It is important to address this stress as it could lead to impairments of overall quality of life in both parents and their child or children. Keywords: Parenting stress, Paternal stress, Children with special needs.

Background Few previous studies have examined Antonovsky's (1979, 1987) sense of coherence (SOC) in parents of young children with developmental disability (DD). This study explored relationships between parental stress, SOC, social support, and health in parents of preschool children with and without DD. A secondary aim was to explore the relevance of the SOC construct to parental adjustment.Method Data were analysed from 59 families with preschool children with DD and 45 families of typically developing preschoolers (children without DD) who completed the study questionnaire.Results Mothers and fathers of children with DD reported high levels of parenting stress, with 84% of mothers' and 67% of fathers' scores falling within the clinical range. Parents of children with DD consistently reported higher levels of parenting stress, weaker SOC, and, for mothers and parents in 2‐parent families, poorer health than parents of children without DD. Within families, mothers of children with DD reported poorer health, higher levels of parenting stress, and weaker SOC than their partners. There were no significant differences in reported health, parenting stress, or SOC between parents of children without DD.Conclusions The results supported previous findings on high levels of parental stress in parents of preschool children with DD. The weaker SOC of parents of children with DD is likely to be an indication of the pervasive impact on parents of their child's DD. These findings also indicated possible gender differences in parental adjustment to their child's DD. Overall, the findings of this study support the usefulness of SOC theory in understanding adaptation in parents of children with DD.

Resilience across the Continuum of Care

Gender differences in predictors of quality of life for parents of children with Autism Spectrum disorder in Saudi Arabia

This study compares work-family conflict (WFC), parental stress, and work centrality among parents of children aged 0-4 with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), compared to parents of children of the same age without an NDD diagnosis. It also examines the role of parental stress as a mediator or moderator in the relationship between parental group (child with NDD vs. no NDD diagnosis) and WFC. 346 Israeli parents (155 with children with NDDs, 191 with children without an NDD diagnosis) completed online questionnaires. Parents of children with NDDs work less andhave lower education and income. They experience greater parental stress and struggle more with WFC. An interaction effect between parental stress and WFC was observed, which was stronger among parents of children with NDDs. Parental stress mediated the relation between the parental group and WFC. The findings highlight the vulnerability of parents of children with NDDs in both the work and family domains, emphasizing the need for targeted support and policy considerations to address their unique challenges in achieving less WFC.

Health related quality of life in parents of children with speech and hearing impairment

Background: Parenting a child with ADHD presents unique psychological challenges, often leading to heightened stress, anxiety, and depression. Although extensive research has explored these mental health concerns, studies comparing the psychological distress between mothers and fathers of children with ADHD remain scarce, particularly in Pakistan. Understanding these differences is crucial for designing targeted interventions that support parental well-being. This study aims to bridge this gap by examining the association between stress, anxiety, and depression among parents of children with ADHD and identifying gender-based differences in these mental health outcomes. Objective: This study investigates the relationship between stress, anxiety, and depression among parents of children with ADHD. Additionally, it examines differences in psychological distress between mothers and fathers and explores the mediating role of anxiety in the relationship between stress and depression. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational research design was employed. Using purposive sampling, data were collected from 216 parents (123 mothers and 93 fathers) of children diagnosed with ADHD under 18 years of age. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) was used to assess stress, anxiety, and depression. Statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation, independent t-tests, and mediation analysis via the Hayes Process Macro (Model 4), were conducted using SPSS version 29. Ethical approval was obtained from the institutional review board, and informed consent was secured from all participants. Results: A significant positive correlation was observed between stress and anxiety (r = .54, p < .01), stress and depression (r = .28, p < .01), and anxiety and depression (r = .42, p < .01). Mothers reported significantly higher levels of stress (M = 6.21, SD = 5.18) than fathers (M = 4.07, SD = 3.38, p < .001, d = 0.48). Anxiety scores were also significantly higher among mothers (M = 9.78, SD = 7.10) compared to fathers (M = 5.53, SD = 3.84, p < .001, d = 0.74). Similarly, mothers exhibited greater depression (M = 13.66, SD = 6.80) than fathers (M = 8.90, SD = 6.18, p < .001, d = 0.73). Mediation analysis confirmed that anxiety significantly mediated the relationship between stress and depression (β = .32, 95% CI [.13, .29]). Conclusion: The study highlights the significant psychological burden faced by parents of children with ADHD, with mothers experiencing greater distress than fathers. Anxiety serves as a key mediator in the relationship between stress and depression, emphasizing the need for early intervention strategies. These findings underscore the necessity of mental health support services, structured coping mechanisms, and educational programs to enhance parental well-being and improve outcomes for families managing ADHD.

Introduction: Normal parenting stress appears in many parents due to everyday encounters that are difficult leading to stressful events in their parenting. Many studies have shown increased parenting stress among parents of children with special needs/disabilities. This study aims in comparing parenting stress among mothers of normal children and fathers of special need children. Objective: i) To compare stress of parenting among fathers of children with special needs and mothers of normal children. Materials and Methods: Sheldon Cohen Perceived Stress Scale questionnaire was used to assess parenting stress on father of 120 children with special needs(study group) and mothers of 120 normal (control group) children aged between 6 and 12 years. Statistical analysis was done using unpaired t-test. Results: The study group scored higher as compared to the control group with their means and standard deviations being (18.60 + 4.77) and (15.78 + 5.06) respectively. The statistical value of significance (p value) is 0.03. Conclusion: The fathers of children with special needs had significantly higher parenting stress levels as compared to the mothers of normal children. Keywords: Paternal, Parenting, Stress.

Fathers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) report more challenges than fathers of typically developing children, which also negatively impacts their psychological well-being. Although not studied to the same extent in fathers of children with ASD, the challenges experienced by fathers of typically developing children have been shown to impact parenting behaviours. Many children with ASD also have intellectual disability (ID), which adds additional parenting stress. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine perceptions of parenting roles and father-child relationship quality in fathers of children with ASD and ASD/ID. Twenty-eight fathers of children with ASD (n=12) and ASD/ID (n=16) completed a telephone interview. A phenomenological approach was used by two investigators to analyse the interviews. Both investigators coded the interviews and then discussed the final themes. Five major themes emerged. One theme that emerged was pre-birth expectations, and the remaining themes related to the post-diagnosis period: adjustments, experiences, co-parenting and quality of father-child relationship. Both fathers of a child with ASD and ASD/ID reported on all themes. Overall, fathers of children with ASD and ASD/ID reported similarly on the themes that emerged. Future research with more diverse samples is needed to continue to understand the fatherhood experience. The findings of this study have implications for the development of parent-focused programmes that are tailored to fathers' unique experiences.

Parents of children with oral clefts may be impacted psychosocially in several ways, but empirical evidence remains relatively sparse. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of psychosocial well-being of parents of affected children. The study included a total sample of 287 parents (171 mothers and 116 fathers) of children with oral clefts. Parents completed validated psychosocial instruments to measure social avoidance and distress, fear of negative evaluation scale, self-esteem and interpersonal support. Regression analysis was used to evaluate how selected child, parent and household characteristics relate to psychosocial outcomes focusing on child's cleft type, sex and age, differences between mothers and fathers, marital status and household income. Fathers had higher self-esteem than mothers (P = 0.01) and lower concern of being negatively judged by others (P < 0.0001) but also had lower perception of having someone to talk to about their problems (P = 0.01). High household income was associated with greater self-esteem and perception of social support (<0.05). Parents of male affected children had greater perception of social support than parents of female affected children (P = 0.04). No significant differences in parental psychosocial status measures were found by cleft type. Similarly, there is little evidence of changes with child age, except for an increase in parental distress and decline in self-esteem during mid-adolescence (age 15-17 years). The results indicate that mothers and fathers of children with oral clefts may differ in their psychosocial adjustment and that mothers may overall experience more psychosocial problems than fathers. Also, parents from less wealthy households may be at greater risk. Parental psychosocial status should be considered in holistic family-based treatment approaches to reduce burden on affected families and improve their well-being.

Broader Autism Phenotype (BAP) traits may be present in parents of children on the autism spectrum. However, the prevalence and impact of these traits on parental mental health is poorly understood. We explore BAP traits and its relationship to mental health in 228 fathers and 261 mothers from a sample of 266 scholars from the EPINED study (Spain) grouped as follows: non-autism (N = 122), autism traits (N = 93: 38 subthreshold autism and 55 autism symptoms) and autism (N = 51). BAP rates were higher in fathers (36.9%) than in mothers (26.1%). Moreover, BAP was significantly more frequent in fathers of autistic children (52.3%) than in fathers of children without autistic traits (28.0%), with no differences between autistic conditions groups. Mothers of autistic children exhibited higher psychological distress (36.0%) than mothers of comparison group (19.2%). Fathers with BAP obtained significantly higher scores in emotional problems than fathers without BAP. Multivariate analyses showed that, fathers' emotional problems were associated with their BAP traits, whereas in mothers they were associated with having a child with autism as well as the child's emotional dysregulation. Identifying BAP in parents of autistic conditions children can help professionals to provide specific strategies for improving the well-being of children and parents.

Recent animal and human studies suggest that prenatal exposure to carcinogens may increase the risk of childhood malignancy. The Texas Childhood Cancer Study (1976-1977) was designed to test the hypothesis that parental exposure to hydrocarbon-related occupations or industries increases this risk. The study subjects, parents of children with and without cancer, were questioned about their job histories. Parents of 296 children with cancer were not exposed to hydrocarbon-related occupations or industries more often than the uncles and aunts of these children, the parents of neighborhood children, or the parents of 283 children without cancer. During the year before birth, odds ratios for fathers of children seen at a hematology clinic with cancer relative to the uncles of these children (0.93), the fathers of neighborhood children (1.33), and the fathers of children seen at the clinic without cancer (0.50) were not statistically significantly different from 1.00 (p greater than 0.05). This lack of association persisted for the year after birth, the year before diagnosis, and the interval from the year before birth to the year of diagnosis; for different diagnoses; for different ages at diagnosis; and for the industries and occupations of female as well as male parents.

To test the hypothesis that a parent's job exposure to radiation affects his or her child's risk of cancer, the authors compared this exposure during the year before the child's birth for parents of children with and without cancer. Parents of children with cancer were no more likely to have worked in occupations, industries, or combined occupations and industries with potential ionizing radiation exposure. Bone cancer and Wilms' tumor occurred more frequently among children of fathers in all industries with moderate potential ionizing radiation exposure. Children with cancer more often had fathers who were aircraft mechanics (odds ratio (OR) = infinity, one-sided 95% lower limit = 1.5; P = 0.04). Although four of these six were military aircraft mechanics, only children whose fathers had military jobs with potential ionizing radiation exposure had an increased cancer risk (OR = 2.73; P = 0.01). Four cancer types occurred more often among children of fathers in specific radiation-related occupations: rhabdomyosarcoma among children whose fathers were petroleum industry foremen; retinoblastoma among children whose fathers were radio and television repairmen; central nervous system cancers and other lymphatic cancers among children of Air Force fathers. Because numbers of case fathers are small and confidence limits are broad, the associations identified by this study need to be confirmed in other studies. Better identification and gradation of occupational exposure to radiation would increase the sensitivity to detect associations.

The aim of this study was to examine the level of a sense of empowerment among mothers and fathers of children with autism. The relationship between a sense of empowerment and socio-demographic variables characterising the respondents including the parents was also analysed. Among the participants, there were 74 parents of autistic children (39 mothers, 35 fathers), 77 parents of children with Down syndrome (40 mothers, 37 fathers) as well as 80 parents of typically developing children (40 mothers, 40 fathers). Two statistical tools, namely the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test, were employed in this study. The results show a higher level of a sense of empowerment when it comes to the evaluation of own knowledge and competences in mothers of autistic children than in mothers of children with Down syndrome, contrary to fathers of autistic children whose level of a sense of empowerment is lower within the said scope compared with fathers of children with Down syndrome.