Parental stress and behaviour problems of children with developmental disability

Abstract

The present paper focuses on the integration of two research foci in the field of developmental disability: models of the development and maintenance of children's problem behaviours, and parental stress associated with child characteristics. I propose a simple model whereby children's behaviour problems, parental stress, and parenting behaviour are related. Evidence is found for a central part of this model (that child behaviour problems lead to parental stress), but other aspects are as yet untested in the developmental disability field. Future refinement of the model is discussed, with an emphasis on the role of parental appraisal processes in understanding the mechanisms by which child behaviour problems affect parental well being. Finally, the practical implications of integrating research on children's behaviour problems and parental stress are briefly considered.