Resilience and stigma in mothers of children with emotional and behavioural difficulties

Abstract

BackgroundMothers of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience frequent and high levels of stigma from family, friends, and members of the public. This stigma can have a negative impact on mothers’ psychological well-being, their social circle, and their relationship with their child. AimsThe present study aimed to establish if there was a relationship between emotional and behavioural difficulties and stigma, and if resilience, social support and parental adjustment acted as a protective factors in this relationship. Methods108 mothers of children aged between four and 16 years old with IDD participated in a cross-sectional online survey. Mothers were asked about their child’s behavioural difficulties, their experience of stigma, in addition to completing assessments of resilience, social support, and parental adjustment. ResultsOverall child behavioural and emotional difficulties, and the sub domain emotional problems, hyperactivity, and low prosocial behaviour were found to be a significant independent predictors of stigma. Resilience was associated with stigma and moderated the relationship between low prosocial behaviour and stigma. There was no evidence that social support or parental attachment acted as protective factors in the relationship between child behavioural difficulties and stigma. ConclusionsThe results of the present study extend the findings of previous research by providing evidence that families of children with a range of developmental disabilities experience stigma, in particular when children show high levels of emotional problems and hyperactivity, and low levels of prosocial behaviour. The present study also provides evidence that resilience is associated with stigma and resilience-building interventions may be beneficial to reduce the negative impact of stigma.