Parental Stress, Coping Strategies and Social Support in Families of Children With a Disability

Parents of children with developmental disabilities face many stressors and may cope in a variety of ways. This study examined the relationships between parent stress and coping strategies among parents of children with high- and low-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Down syndrome, and typically-developing children. Results suggest that some coping strategies may work best for particular parent groups, and parents of children with ASD have greater stress levels than other parent groups.