Abstract
Studies about the impact of developmental dyslexia (DD) on parenting are scarce. Our investigation aimed to assess maternal stress levels and mothers' copying styles in a population of dyslexic children. A total of 874 children (500 boys, 374 girls; mean age 8.32 ± 2.33 years) affected by DD was included in the study. A total of 1,421 typically developing children (789 boys, 632 girls; mean age 8.25 ± 3.19 years) were recruited from local schools of participating Italian Regions (Abruzzo, Calabria, Campania, Puglia, Umbria, Sicily) and used as control-children group. All mothers (of both DD and typically developing children) filled out an evaluation for parental stress (Parenting Stress Index-Short Form) and coping strategies [Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS)]. No statistical differences for mean age (p = 0.456) and gender (p = 0.577) were found between DD and control children. Mothers of children affected by DD showed an higher rate of all parental stress indexes (Parental Distress domain p < 0.001, Difficult Child p < 0.001, Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction p < 0.001, and Total Stress subscale score p < 0.001) than controls mothers. According to the CISS evaluation, mothers of DD children reported a significantly higher rate of emotion-oriented (p < 0.001) and avoidance-oriented (p < 0.001) coping styles than mothers of typical developing children. On the other hand, a lower representation of task-oriented coping style was found in mothers of DD children (p < 0.001) in comparison to mothers of control-children. Our study shows the clinical relevance of the burden carried by the mothers of children affected by DD and suggests the importance to assess parents, particularly mothers, to improve family compliance and clinical management of this disorder.
Highlights
Developmental dyslexia (DD) is commonly identified only by reading difficulties, it should be considered a disability impacting multiple aspects of the life, during pediatric age [1]
Higher levels of stress rate were found in mothers of children affected by developmental dyslexia (DD) respect of healthy children
Mothers of DD children showed higher scores in all domains of Parenting Stress Index—Short Form (PSI-SF) such as Parental Distress (PD), Difficult Child (DC), and Parent–Child Dysfunctional Interaction (PCDI) subscales than mothers of typically developing children, suggesting that mothers of DD children seem to consider as stressors each interaction with their own children
Summary
Developmental dyslexia (DD) is commonly identified only by reading difficulties, it should be considered a disability impacting multiple aspects of the life, during pediatric age [1]. Different cognitive and behavioral aspects are impaired in DD children such as sleep regulation [3], postural control [4], dental occlusion [5], mood regulation [6], and self-esteem [7]. In this light, family support may be considered essential, during the transition to adolescence and adulthood [8], and certainly relevant in pediatric age due to the natural frailty of this crucial period of life. Our investigation aimed to assess maternal stress levels and mothers’ copying styles in a population of dyslexic children
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