Parenting Stress in Mothers of Children and Adolescents with Down Syndrome.

Elisa Fucà,Luciana Ursumando,Stefano Vicari,Floriana Costanzo

doi:10.3390/jcm11051188

Abstract

Parenting stress has deleterious effects on parents, children, and overall family functioning. Parents of children with intellectual disability, including Down Syndrome (DS), show higher levels of parenting stress than parents of typically developing children. This research aimed to (i) evaluate parenting stress levels in a group of mothers of youths with DS using a parent-report questionnaire, (ii) identify children’s individual and clinical features associated with maternal stress, and (iii) identify specific situational life/demographics factors related to maternal stress. Seventy-eight youths with DS underwent a neuropsychological evaluation, whereas mothers completed questionnaires for the assessment of parenting stress and of the child’s emotional and behavioral problems. We found that Parent–Child Difficult Interaction was the domain with the highest percentage of clinical scores (39.7%). Both internalizing and externalizing problems correlated with maternal stress, as well as autistic symptoms. The levels of maternal stress were not associated with any socio-demographic variable. After controlling for child-related correlates of maternal stress and for mothers’ age and education level, unemployed mothers exhibited higher levels of parental distress than employed mothers. The present study highlights that unemployment is related with parenting stress and potentially amenable to policy interventions supporting parents in combining work and family care.

Highlights

Parenting stress has been defined as “the disparity between the perceived demands of parenting and the resources parents have available to meet those demands” [1]
After controlling for child-related correlates of maternal stress and for mothers’ age and education level, we found that unemployed mothers exhibited higher levels of parental distress than employed mothers
The results of the present study are consistent with the large body of evidence that indicates how externalizing problems are associated with higher levels of maternal stress in Down Syndrome (DS); they provide additional evidence to the current literature for an effect of internalizing problems and social communication deficits on maternal stress levels, highlighting the importance of proper interventions for these aspects, as well as for the improvement of family wellbeing in DS

Summary

Introduction

Parenting stress has been defined as “the disparity between the perceived demands of parenting and the resources parents have available to meet those demands” [1]. Stress can negatively influence parents’ mental health and wellbeing; several studies have reported an association between chronic stress and poor psychological and physical health in caregivers, as well as reduced satisfaction with life [4–7]. Parental psychological stress can affect children’s wellbeing, as well as psychological and developmental outcomes [8–12]. Several authors reported associations between parenting stress and less stimulating interactions with child, as well as increased risk for child maltreatment and adverse childhood experiences [13–20]. Parenting stress occurring in the child’s early life seems to predict internalizing and externalizing problems [21]; for instance, Buodo and colleagues [22] reported a significant relationship between parenting stress and the children’s externalizing behavior in a group of 61 mothers with children aged 9–12 years

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion