Levels Of Parenting Stress Research Articles

Особенности стресса и базисных убеждений родителей детей с нормативным развитием и с ограниченными возможностями здоровья

The article presents the results of the study of stress level of parents of children with typical development and with disabilities (mental retardation, autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, visual and hearing impairment). The specificity of the expression of attitudes towards intensive parenting, basic personal and parental beliefs is analyzed. The study involved 190 respondents: 125 parents of children with normal development and 65 parents of children with disabilities. A high level of parental stress was identified among parents of children with disabilities. The data obtained allow us to say that there are such features of parental stress as an in-creased experience of loss of control over one’s life as a result of the birth of a child with disabilities, increased demands for development and upbringing, lack of pleasure, a reduction in the positive emotions that the ful-fillment of the parental role brings, a decrease satisfaction with oneself as a parent. Specific personal attitudes toward the experience of traumatic parenting have also been identified. Adults raising children with disabilities are dissatisfied with themselves, do not approve of their actions, and tend to consider themselves less success-ful than parents of children with normal development.

The Relationship between Coping Strategies and Parenting Stress in Childhood Epilepsy

Background: Epilepsy is a common childhood disease that can lead to high stress levels in parents, subsequently affecting family dynamics. The coping strategies practised by parents often play a major role in determining the level of parenting stress. Objective: This study aimed to identify the proportion of parents with parenting stress among those who have children with epilepsy, to compare the level of stress in different domains (parent, child, and parent-child interaction) as well as to examine the relationship between parenting stress and parental coping strategies. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 61 parents of children with epilepsy aged between 2 to 12 years old were recruited from the Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM) paediatric clinic over eight months. Validated questionnaires were used to determine the parenting stress level and coping strategies. Results: The proportion of parents with high stress scores (13.1%) was lower in this study compared to previous studies, except for non-Malay parents. Among the three domains, 29.5% of parents reported a high stress level under Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction (P-CDI). A negative correlation was observed between active coping and total parenting stress scores (TPSS) (r = -0.323, p = 0.011). In contrast, there was a positive correlation between self-blame coping and TPSS (r = 0.315, p = 0.014). Conclusion: Parents of children with epilepsy mostly reported low TPSS, except for non-Malays. Parents are encouraged to practise more active coping and less self-blame in managing children with newly diagnosed epilepsy.

Effect of peer support group (PSG) on stress levels of parents with mental retardation children in Bogor

Raising a child with mental retardation is an extraordinary and very emotional experience for parents and can affect the functioning of the family as a whole. The study shows that parents of children with mental retardation experience higher levels of stress and are at risk of mental health problems compared to parents of normal children. One of the efforts to reduce stress is by peer support group (PSG). Peer support group is a gathering of similar groups that carry out activities with the aim of improving coping, providing social support, sharing experiences, reducing fear and worry. This research aims to obtain an overview of the effect of PSG on stress levels in parents of mentally retarded children in Bogor City. This research is a quantitative study with a quasi-experimental pre test–post test control group design method to compare the intervention results of two groups: the intervention group (parents who received PSG and the control group (parents who did not receive PSG). Results showed that there was a significant effect on stress levels after PSG was carried out with P value of 0.000 at α 0.005.

Does parental stress improve after pediatric tonsillectomy?

ObjetiveParental stress is defined as a subjective perception that parenting demands are higher than their resources and is reportedly higher in parents who have children with both chronic and acute illnesses. Ear-nose-throat (ENT) disorders, such as recurrent infections and obstruction sleep disorders, are one of the most prevalent comorbidities in pediatric age. Worldwide, tonsillectomy stands as the surgical treatment for these conditions, associated with a significant burden on both the children and their parents.The purpose of this study is to determine parental stress levels before and after tonsillectomy and to ascertain whether these levels improve after the children's surgery. MethodsThis is a prospective cohort study enrolling 48 parents accompanying their children aged 3–10 for outpatient tonsillectomy surgery in a tertiary portuguese hospital.Consent for participation in this study was obtained and parental stress was determined using the portuguese version of Parental Stress Scale (PSS). All parents completed PSS before surgery and at the 6-month follow-up evaluation. ResultsOf the 48 surveys obtained, 38 were mothers aged from 24 to 45 years. The median age of children was 3 (3–9) years and half were girls. Surgery was performed due to obstruction sleep disorders in about 71 % of children.The overall average stress level was 29,19 (standard deviation 7,5), with higher scores being associated with male children. At the 6-month reevaluation PSS was significantly lower (26,98), with a prominent reduction in the parental stress subscale in mothers comparing to fathers. ConclusionsThese results highlight the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment of children requiring tonsillectomy, as this condition may affect not only their physical health, but also parental relations, reflecting on their upbringing.

Parenthood stressfulness and intensity in the students’ views

Introduction. There is an increase in young people’s reproductive decisions in the form of conscious childlessness, deferred parenthood, and small families. The role of reproductive decision-making in the non-optimistic demographic forecast of the state actualizes scientific research factors and conditions for the emergence of childbearing attitudes. Subjective factors, which determine fertile plans, are no less important than the objective ones (material, social). In the subjective picture of potential parenthood, the ideas about a stressful parenting role are of great importance. High demands are made to it and transmitted at the level of public expectations. This forms intensive education practice and a stable attitude towards the perception of fatherhood and motherhood long before the children’s birth.Aim. The present research aims to study the peculiarities of student ideas about the stressfulness and parental role intensity in the gender factor context and reproductive plans.Methodology and research methods. The sample consisted of 364 childless students (M = 19.43 years). To achieve a study goal, the sample was divided by gender (218 girls and 146 boys) and by orientation towards having children: childlessness (n = 32); large families (n = 75); having few children (n = 257). The following methods and techniques were used: authors’ questionnaire; methodology “Parental Stress Scale” by J. O. Berry & W. H. Jones (1995) in the adaptation of Yu. V. Misiyuk, I. V. Tikhonova (2022); “Intensive Parenting Attitudes Questionnaire” by M. Liss, H. H. Schiffrin, V. H. Mackintosh, H. Miles-McLean, M. J. Erchull (2013) in the adaptation of Yu. V. Misiyuk (2022); the authors’ version of a semi-structured interview, which studies the ideas of young people about the stressors of parental life in different periods of child development and stress intensity. The methods of statistical processing were employed.Results. The authors revealed stressfulness specificity and parental stress intensity, their content depending on the orientation towards childbearing and gender roles. Child-free students associate parenthood with a high level of parental stress. It is unsatisfying, lacks resources, threatens to lose control over one’s own life, and makes high demands on the necessity to stimulate children’s development. Students oriented on having many children demonstrate a balanced view on parenthood stressfulness in terms of resources and costs. Students, focused on having few children, have an idea of moderate parental stressfulness. They point to such possible signs of parental stress as “loss of control” and “parental stressors”.Girls assess a parental stressfulness role higher than boys; they expect a lower satisfaction level, a high stress level during the periods of early and preschool child development. Girls demonstrate the severity of attitudes towards essentialism, and young men towards child-centrism. The essentialisation of parenthood strengthens the ideas about parenthood stressfulness, whereas the attitude towards getting pleasure from parenthood can be a protection factor.Scientific novelty. For the first time, the characteristics of the stress of the parental role and attitudes towards intensive parenthood in the representations of students are studied. Their interrelation is investigated. The presented results reveal the peculiarities of the perception of the tension of the parental role, its saturation with stress factors, taking into account gender and orientation to childbearing.Practical significance. The research outcomes contribute to the understanding of the patterns and factors of the formation of ideas about the stress of parenthood, its role in the reproductive plans of students. Also, the research results can be used in educational organisations to justify education programmes on parenting and psychological support.

Analysis of Parent Stress Levels Toward Children in the Online Learning Process During New Normal

The purpose of this study was to analyze the level of stress faced by parents in the online learning process during the new normal era. The research method used was descriptive qualitative, with a case study approach. The research subjects were parents who have early childhood and elementary school, with a total of 10 mothers. The data collection techniques used were observation and interview data analysis, reduction strategies, data display, data interpretation, and data verification. The study findings indicate that parents face various challenges when it comes to online learning at home during the current era of the new normal. These challenges contribute to heightened levels of stress in relation to their children's education. One such challenge is the lack of comprehension among parents regarding the lessons and learning materials provided by the school. Parents often exhibit impatience when assisting their children, and time constraints further exacerbate the situation. Furthermore, parents struggle to motivate their children to engage enthusiastically in learning. Lastly, parents also lack proficiency in utilising electronic devices such as cell phones and laptops.

Are screen media the new pacifiers? The role of parenting stress and parental attitudes for children's screen time in early childhood

Screen media are increasingly shaping our everyday lives, including those of young children. Among other reasons, parents might use screen media as a problem-oriented coping strategy to reduce parenting stress levels. Furthermore, parental attitudes towards children's screen media use have been shown to predict screen time in young children. The present study examines the intertwined roles of parenting stress and parental attitudes to children's screen time throughout early childhood. Parents of N = 462 children aged up to 3 years (M = 1.28, SD = 0.61; 50% female) participated in four assessments within 10 months. Parents reported their level of parenting stress, their attitudes toward young children's screen media use, and their child's screen time at each assessment. Across all measurement time points, results indicated that both parenting stress and positive parental attitudes are positively associated with children's screen time. Furthermore, parental attitudes were found to strengthen the link between stress and children's screen time at two of the four measurement time points. Recommendations for children's screen time should consider parental stress and suggest alternative strategies for coping with parenting stress.

The Relationships between Family Resources, Parental Stress, and Child Well-Being in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease

Introduction: Parents and caregivers play an important role in the management of pediatric chronic illness. In sickle cell disease (SCD), families often manage multiple components simultaneously, such as attending clinic appointments, following a medication regimen, and treating pain symptoms. The availability of resources is known to affect disease management. However, it is unknown how children and parents view their resource availability, and how this can impact both parent stress and child quality of life (QoL). The current study examined the ways in which family resources, parental stress, and child well-being interact with and potentially influence each other. We hypothesize the following: 1) There is a relationship between family resources and child well-being such that more family resources leads to higher quality of life reporting; 2) There is a relationship between family resources and parental stress such that more family resources leads to lower parental stress; and 3) Parental stress moderates the relationship between family resources and child well-being. Methods : Parents of youth with SCD reported on the adequacy of their family's resources by completing the 30-item Family Resource Scale (FRS), rating items on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = not adequate at all to 5 = almost always adequate). Parents also reported on their parental stress by completing the 42-item Pediatric Inventory for Parents (PIP), rating items on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = never/not at all to 5 = very often/extremely). Children and parents reported on the child's overall well-being by completing the 43-item PedsQL SCD Module self-report form and 43-item parent proxy-report, rating items on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = never to 5 = almost always). Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to measure relationships between family resources (FRS) and child well-being (PedsQL), family resources (FRS) and parental stress (PIP), and parental stress (PIP) and child well-being (PedsQL). Multiple regressions were used to determine if parental stress moderated, or changed the effect of, family resources on child well-being. Results: Seventy-eight primary caregivers of youth aged 7-16 with SCD (Mean age = 10.37, SD = 2.86; 58% female; 68% HbSS; 87% African American or Black; 90% Not Hispanic) completed measures on their family resources and parental stress. Preliminary correlation analyses show the relationship between family resources and child self-reports on QoL was weak, positive, and not significant (r = 0.18, p = .167). The relationship between family resources and parent proxy-reports on QoL, however, was moderate, positive, and significant (r = .36, p = .001). The correlation between family resources and parental stress was moderate, negative, and significant (r = -.42, p < .001). The correlation between parental stress and child QoL self-reports was weak, negative, and significant (r = -.225, p = .05). The correlation between parental stress and parent proxy-reports on child QoL was moderate, negative, and significant (r= -.50, p = <.001). Multiple regression results for parent proxy-reports on child QoL show parental stress significantly and negatively impacts parent proxy-reports on child QoL (b = -5.52, p = .034). The relationship between family resources and parent proxy-reports on child QoL was not moderated by parental stress (b = 2.44, p = .207). Conclusion: There is a relationship between family resources and child well-being such that more resources reflect higher quality of life, but only when the parents are reporting on their child's well-being. Current results also show that as family resources decrease, parental stress moderately increases. Parental stress significantly impacted both self-reports and parent proxy-reports on child quality of life, though there was a weaker relationship shown in child self-reports. It's likely that parents who are more stressed view their child as being more stressed. Future interventions should consider including parent components to 1) further understand the role of parental stress as it relates to pediatric SCD management and 2) identify ways to best support families experiencing resource inadequacy or high levels of parental stress. Developing screeners to give to parents of youth with SCD during clinic appointments could offer a destigmatized way of connecting families to resources and providing tools for parental stress management.

The effects of a 2-week gratitude journaling intervention to reduce parental stress and enhance well-being: a pilot study among preschool parents

Parenting entails a range of actions aimed at supporting children and caring for them, but they can also be very stressful. This study examines the effects of a 2-week gratitude journaling exercise on parental stress and well-being among preschool parents. The sample includes parents from a state preschool who volunteered to participate. An experimental group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 21) were created. Parental stress and well-being were evaluated using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale and the Parental Stress Scale. Data were gathered using pre-test, post-test, and follow-up test evaluations. To compare groups and examine changes over time, statistical techniques such the Mann–Whitney U and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test were used. According to the results, after the intervention, participants in the trial group had a significantly lower level of parental stress and higher level of mental well-being compared to control group. Moreover, between posttest and follow up study evaluations there were no significant differences in the mental well-being or parental stress levels of the experimental group. These findings suggest that gratitude journaling can significantly reduce parental stress and improve mental well-being. The study contributes to the corpus of research in this field by showing the preventive and protective effects of gratitude journaling exercise on parental stress, particularly in aftermath of pandemics like Covid-19.

The sociodemographic determinants of stress level among the parents of preterm infants

PurposeIntroduction: The birth of a preterm child requires hospitalization in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), which is a very stressful experience for parents. Aim: To determine the stress level of parents of preterm babies admitted to intensive and sub-intensive units in two hospitals in Northern Italy and its association with their sociodemographic variables and the clinical conditions of their newborns.Design/methodology/approachThe sampling was non-probabilistic and included parents of preterm babies admitted to intensive and/or sub-intensive care for at least 10 days. Instruments: (1) information deduced from the clinical record of preterm newborns; (2) sociodemographic determinants of parents' well-being deduced from a questionnaire; (3) parental stress scale: neonatal intensive care unit (PSS:NICU), which measures the perception of parents about stressors from the physical and psychological environment of the NICU.FindingsResults: A total of 104 parents of 59 hospitalized preterm babies participated in the study. The average parental stress level was 1.87 ± 0.837. The subscale score that got higher was parent-infant relationship subscale. Concerning the infant characteristics, the birth weight of the babies and the length of their hospitalization affected the parents' stress level. Looking at parents' sociodemographic characteristics instead, the greater predictors were gender, age and occupational social class.Originality/valueThe parental role alteration caused by infant premature birth and consequent hospitalization is a major stressor for parents and in particular for mothers. The variables that resulted positively associated with higher stress in parents of preterm infants hospitalized are specific parental characteristics, including not adequately or previously studied ones, and infant characteristics.

14 Changes in Service Delivery Models for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Objective:With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many families face barriers in accessing critical services for their children. However, there is a disproportionate impact on families of children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDDs), particularly those who are dependant on receiving regular services. The current study investigated how service delivery has changed for children and families with NDDs during the COVID-19 pandemic, to identify which groups are most at risk for service disruption and negative outcomes, and to provide actionable recommendations for community agencies that provide early interventions for future pandemics.Participants and Methods:Data was collected in the fall and winter of 2020/2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Families were recruited from a local service provider in British Columbia whose Early Years Support services delivery model was changed to online delivery during the pandemic. Children had a diagnosis of NDD or were on the waitlist for an assessment. Overall, 26 families participated in a semi-structured interview that asked about their experiences of receiving services for their children during the pandemic. Of these families, 20 subsequently completed online questionnaires that asked about their parenting stress levels and their children’s behaviour throughout the pandemic. Families of a range of compositions were drawn from different ethnicities (30% white, 25% South Asian, 20% Filipino, and the remaining 5% identified as Indigenous, African or East Asian). The mean age of children was 3.80 years (SD =0.72).Results:From the survey, we found that 58% of parents reported higher than average levels of mental health and behavioural challenges in their children during the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, 45% of parents reported higher than average parenting stress levels. Qualitative interview data indicated that most parents reported positive experiences with receiving services during the Covid-19 pandemic and reported feeling supported even with social distancing measures. However, families also reported increased stress levels and isolation, particularly those who have children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, who rely on early funding (06 years) and early services. One of the themes that emerged from parents who were on the waitlist to receive an assessment was that wait times around assessments were very long, which contributed to parent stress levels. Parents also reported concerns around wait times to access services and difficulty of accessing online services due to internet and connection issues.Conclusions:The current study identified central themes of stressors and barriers experienced by families and children with NDDs in service delivery. Overall, parents reported satisfaction in changes in service delivery in most ways; however, they also reported stresses and barriers that included wait times, increased isolation, and accessing online services. Actionable steps to reduce family stress include better communication between service providers and families for wait times, and more variability in appointment times. Specific recommendations for current and future pandemics will be expanded on in the poster.

Autism diagnosis experience and parental stress among Portuguese parents

PurposeThis study aims to examine the impact that diagnostic factors such as duration of diagnostic period, number of professionals consulted and perceived social support have on parental stress during the diagnostic process of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Design/methodology/approachForty parents of 2–18 year-old children/adolescents with a formal ASD diagnosis recruited from five specialized private clinics in Lisbon completed a survey which included diagnostic questionnaire, parental stress scale and social support scale from April to December 2022.FindingsData analysis indicated that the mean age of the diagnosis was 5.6 years with a delay of 3.95 years from first concern until final diagnosis. On average, parents consulted a mean of 3.62 professionals. Other findings indicated that as age of parents increased, levels of parental stress decreased. Parents with higher levels of social support had lower levels of parental stress. Furthermore, higher age of child at first concern predicted higher affective social support.Originality/valueThis study reflects on the experience of obtaining the ASD diagnosis in Portugal, raising awareness on the importance of providing early detection and social support for distressed parents.

Hubungan parental stress terhadap self-esteem orang tua yang memiliki anak dengan autism spectrum disorder

Parents of children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) face challenges that put them at high levels of stress. Self- esteem can reduce the negative impact of parental stress. The aim of this research is to analyze the relationship between parental stress and self-esteem in parents who have children with ASD. The method used in this research uses quantitative methods with a correlational design. The sample for this study was 114 parents with ASD. Parental stress was measured using the Parental Stress Scale (PSS) and self-esteem was measured using the self-esteem scale. Pearson product moment correlation was used to analyze the data. The results of the Pearson product moment test obtained r = -.46 and p = 0.00. The results of this study found that parents had moderate levels of parental stress (69.3%) and had moderate self-esteem (60.5%). These results prove that there is a significant relationship between parental stress and self-esteem in ASD parentsKeywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder, parental stress, self-esteem

Parenting a child with Down syndrome: A qualitative study on parents' experiences and behaviors from a self-determination theory perspective

PurposeRaising a child with Down syndrome (DS) brings unique challenges to parents' psychological functioning. Extensive quantitative research has shown that these parents tend to experience higher levels of parental stress and lower well-being. However, a more in-depth and balanced insight is essential to fully grasp the complexity of parenting a child with DS. To address this gap, this study uses a qualitative approach to explore the experiences and behaviors of parents raising a child with DS. Design and methodsBy adopting the Self-Determination Theory as a comprehensive theoretical framework, this study attends to both opportunities and challenges for parents' psychological needs of autonomy, relatedness, and competence, and provides insights into how they support the psychological needs of their child with DS. Eleven in-depth interviews were conducted with parents of a child with DS (aged 4 to 23 years). ResultsThrough thematic analysis, six themes of parental experiences and three themes of parenting behaviors were distinguished. ConclusionsThe findings indicated that parents experience many opportunities for need satisfaction, predominantly in their need for relatedness. However, raising a child with DS also involves challenges for the parents' family relationships, personal freedom, professional ambitions, and feelings of competence. Regarding their parenting behaviors, parents considered stimulating independence, tuning into the child's mental world, and being patient as essential practices when raising a child with DS. Practical implicationsThis study provides important clues to promote parents' well-being as well as their engagement in need-supportive parenting practices towards their child with DS.

DETERMINANTS OF MATERIAL WELLBEING AMONG PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

Previous study stated that both children and parents able commence deliberate behaviour and naturally adopt ways to affect the other's behaviour. They could assess their own behaviours and comprehend the information sent throughout the interaction. Parents of disabled children who suffer inadequate well-being unknowingly display negative parenting skills, making it difficult to help children with disabilities reach their full potential. When it comes to parenting, parents are always preoccupied. However, raising children with disabilities is a huge endeavour that has physical, psychological, and mental concerns for parents. To manage with their children's impairments, which are characterized by a wide spectrum of symptoms, parents frequently sacrifice their time, energy, and financial resources. In comparison to other disabilities, parents of children with autism spectrum disorder consistently reported greater levels of parental stress. The present models, however, are limited as indicators for assessing the well-being among parents of children with impairments. As a result, the goal of this research is to determine the level of material well-being and investigate the elements that influence it. In total, 230 Malaysian parents of children with disabilities took part in the study. To assess the research constructs and the structural model, smart partial least square (PLS) was used. The findings revealed that all the study hypotheses were supported, and the effect of the components inside the respondents' environment was confirmed. The results of this study showed that parents' financial attitudes, awareness of disabilities, and government support had a positive and significant impact on their children's material well-being. The study's anticipated outcome will help the government in developing plans to improve advanced and contemporary services for parents of children with disabilities.

Physical Activity and Mental Health of Youth During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 Pandemic has globally impacted children’s physical activity and mental health outcomes since the transition to remote learning (Štveráková, et al., 2021). Children and adults may encounter negative mental health related consequences, higher stress, and a significant lack of physical activity while in physical and social isolation (Clemente-Suárez, 2022). In particular, school-aged children have experienced a significant reduction in physical activity since transitioning to remote learning and do not have sufficient opportunities to make up for this loss while engaged in remote learning (Štveráková, et al., 2021). Increased physical activity has been consistently correlated with positive mental health outcomes and a reduction of perceived stress in the literature. The purpose of this study, focusing specifically on households participating in remote learning, was to understand the links among access to physical activity opportunities, parental stress, and parent and child mental health outcomes during the Pandemic. In addition, this study will examine how parental stress, mental health and physical activity opportunities may vary depending on the age and socioeconomic status (SES) of the child. Results indicated that most children achieved less than the recommended amount of physical activity and had an increase of at least one mental health concern during remote learning throughout the Pandemic. Parental stress levels were negatively associated with children’s time spent in physical activity, and positively associated with the severity of parents’ mental health concerns and the number of children’s mental health concerns. Implications for school personnel are discussed.

Understanding women's suffering and psychological well-being: exploring biopsychosocial factors in mothers of children with ADHD - a case study.

Parents play a dynamic part in child development. Mothers have a great responsibility towards the upbringing child. Previous research has demonstrated that parenting stress levels are high among Parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Parenting stress affects the psychological well-being of the mother. It is necessary to identify the factors that affect psychological well-being based on Biopsychosocial factors, including biological, psychological, and social factors. An in-depth case study was conducted with the mother of a 7-year-old child diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The mother lacks self-efficacy and low perceived social support in. Equipping themselves and building up the knowledge on handling the child and training the child with the developmental disorder increase parenting self-efficacy. Support from family, partner, and society will help them strengthen themselves and may have high psychological support.

Different contributions of resilience and contextual factors to levels of anxiety, stress, and depression in parents of autistic children

Parents of autistic children tend to have higher levels of parenting-related stress, anxiety, and depression than parents of typically developing children. This psychological distress can also affect their ability to take care of their children. In this sense, literature highlights some protective factors. The aim of the present study is to examine the influence of resilience and contextual factors on the state of anxiety, stress, and depression of parents of autistic children. In the present study, contextual factors included attending an association of parents of autistic children, having a trusted person to talk to, having a job outside the home, and having more children. Results showed that resilience had a strong and negative relationship with the three mental states. Nevertheless, contextual variables analyzed related differently with each of the states. In addition, regression analyses showed that resilience predicted a less degree of anxiety, stress, and depression; attending an association of parents of autistic children predicted having less anxiety and depression symptoms; and having a trusted person to talk to predicted less level of depression. It is concluded that promoting resilience in parents of autistic children and providing context protective factors should improve the mental health and quality of life of these families.

Perceived Stress, Mental Well-Being and Coping on Parents of Disabled Children from Mainstream and Special Schools

Raising children with special needs increases the level of family stress and undoubtedly affects the mental well-being of its members. Parents' ability to adapt to this challenge, which causes stress and various unpleasant emotions, will have an effect both on them and on the children. We hypothesized that perceived stress is a significant predictor for parents’ mental well-being and that this relationship is moderated by different copying strategies used by them. Moreover, we hypothesized that the type of school in which children are enrolled predicts the level of stress reported by the parents. 202 parents of children with disabilities in special schools and mainstream schools, aged between 21 and 66 years old, completed a questionnaire to measure stress levels, mental well-being and the coping strategies used by them. Regression and moderation analyses were conducted. Parental stress was a negative predictor of mental well-being, and problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping were moderators of the relationship between the two variables, with lower levels of stress and higher levels of mental well-being for the use of these strategies. Avoidant coping did not represent a moderator in this relationship, being correlated with higher levels of parental stress. Children’ parents in special education have experienced higher levels of stress than children’ parents in mainstream schools. Findings suggest that the way parents of disabled children manage to cope with the stressors influence their mental well-being, offering support in understanding this phenomenon and setting objectives of psycho-emotional intervention for parents.

‘Lockdown’ learning designs – Parent preferences towards remote and online learning for their children during the COVID-19 pandemic

The widespread move to online schooling during the COVID-19 crisis meant that parents played a significant role in educating their children. However, there is a paucity of research relating to parents’ perceptions of online and remote learning designs. This study used multiple regression analyses and thematic analysis of parent survey responses during COVID-19 to examine which online tasks reduced parental stress and student difficulty, increased student autonomy and learning, and increased parental satisfaction. A key finding was that digital creativity tasks were related to lower levels of parental stress, lower student difficulty, greater student autonomy and greater parent satisfaction with school support. Parents also preferred more web-conferencing lessons and offline tactile activities, and less digital worksheets. These findings have implications for educator-parent collaboration and for remote learning broadly.