Publication year
2006
Citation Title
The contribution of marital quality to the well-being of parents of children with developmental disabilities
Journal Name
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research
Journal Volume
50
Issue Number
12
Page Numbers
883-893
DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2788.2006.00906.x
Summary
Parents of children with a developmental disability (e.g., Down syndrome, motor impairment, or developmental delay) may have increased stress related to parenting, thus impacting marital quality. This study explored differences of depression and parenting stress as potential factors impacting marital quality among parents of a child with a developmental disability. Findings suggest child’s behavior was related to parents’ overall well-being for both mothers and fathers.
Key Findings
Less stress and depressive symptoms were present among parents with greater marital quality.
Children’s behavior was related to mothers’ marital satisfaction, but not to fathers’ satisfaction.
Parent stress, efficacy, and income were related to children’s behavior problems; however, each had a more significant effect on fathers’ depressive symptoms than on mothers’ symptoms.
Implications for Military Professionals
Collaborate with other professionals to facilitate program activities specific to military families of children with a developmental disability
Facilitate support groups for military parents of children who have a developmental disability to increase efficacy and improve overall well-being
Implications for Program Leaders
Provide resources for military families of children with a developmental disability, especially low-income families
Educate military couples on ways to deal with parenting stress, which is particularly beneficial to families of children with developmental disabilities
Implications for Policy Makers
Recommend education for professionals on navigating appropriate resources for military families of children with developmental disabilities
Continue to support programs that provide assistance to military families of children with developmental disabilities
Methods
Families were recruited through community intervention programs located in northeastern U.S.
Questionnaires examined both parents’ levels of depression, stress, efficacy, socioeconomic status, social support, marital quality, as well as child functioning and behavior problems.
Statistical analyses were conducted to determine differences and relations of perceived marital quality to depression, parenting stress and efficacy, and child’s behavior.
Participants
The sample included married parents (N=67) of a child (10 years old) with a disability.
A majority of the sample were White (96%); other race/ethnicity information was not provided.
Mothers’ average age was 40 years (SD=5), while fathers’ average age was 42 years (SD=6).
Limitations
Interpretations based on the findings are limited due to the small, homogenous sample.
Data collected were self-reported, thus study conclusions may be bias for this specific sample.
The study was conducted at one time point, which limits the ability to determine long-term effects of marital quality among parents of a child with a developmental disability.
Avenues for Future Research
Collect data from a larger, more heterogenous sample to explore differences among families with various types of childhood developmental disabilities
Further explore the lived experiences of families of children with a developmental disability
Examine additional factors that may impact couples’ marital quality among parents of a child with a developmental disability
Focus
Civilian
Target Population
Population Focus
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study examines the contribution of the marital relationship to the well-being of both mothers and fathers of children with developmental disabilities. Parent well-being is conceptualized in terms of mental health, parenting stress and parenting efficacy. METHODS: These analyses are based on data from 67 families participating in the Early Intervention Collaborative Study, an ongoing longitudinal investigation of the development of children with disabilities and the adaptation of their families. Multidimensional assessment techniques were used to collect data from married mothers and fathers and their child with a disability. Mother and father data were analysed separately using parallel hierarchical regression models. RESULTS: For both mothers and fathers, greater marital quality predicted lower parenting stress and fewer depressive symptoms above and beyond socio-economic status, child characteristics and social support. In relation to parenting efficacy, marital quality added significant unique variance for mothers but not for fathers. For fathers, greater social support predicted increased parenting efficacy. Child behaviour was also a powerful predictor of parental well-being for both mothers and fathers. CONCLUSION: The findings support the importance of the marital relationship to parental well-being and illustrate the value of including fathers in studies of children with developmental disabilities.
Abstract Document
PRTW Document
Attach