Stress experienced by mothers of Malaysian children with mental retardation.

Abstract

Objective To compare parenting stress among Malaysian mothers of children with mental retardation and a control group, and to determine factors associated with stress. Method Seventy‐five mothers of children with mental retardation aged 4 to 12 years and 75 controls (paediatric clinic attenders without disabilities) participated in the Parenting Stress Index (PSI). Intelligence quotient (IQ) and Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) scores, together with socio‐economic data, were entered into a multiple stepwise regression analysis, using the PSI as the criterion. Results Mothers of children with mental retardation scored significantly higher than control subjects in both the child‐related domain (difference between means 26.1) and parent‐related domain (difference between means 15.0) of the PSI. The total child behaviour scores from the CBCL (p < 0.01), IQ scores (p < 0.01) and sibship size (p < 0.01) were associated with child‐related domain scores. For the patient‐related domain, CBCL (p < 0.01) and IQ scores (p = 0.01) remained important factors, but Chinese ethnicity (p < 0.01) and maternal unemployment (p < 0.01) were also significant predictors of stress. Conclusion A large proportion of mothers of children with mental retardation experienced substantial parenting stress, especially Chinese and unemployed mothers, and this warrants appropriate intervention.