Publication year
2017
Citation Title
Optimism and positive and negative feelings in parents of young children with developmental delay.
Journal Name
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research
Journal Volume
61
Issue Number
7
Page Numbers
719-725
DOI
10.1111/jir.12378
Summary
Parenting and child problem behaviors are influenced by the parents' positive and negative feelings toward the child. However, among parents who have children with developmental delays, little is known about the factors that contribute to their positive and negative feelings. This study sought to examine how parental optimism influences positive and negative feelings for parents.
Key Findings
Increased optimism in parents was shown to increase positive feelings and decrease negative feelings toward their child with developmental delay.
When a parent is experiencing high levels of parenting stress, higher levels of optimism were found to increase parents' positive feelings toward their child.
Positive feelings toward the child were associated with decreased internalizing and externalizing problems whereas negative feelings were associated with increased internalizing and externalizing problems.
Implications for Military Professionals
Facilitate support groups for parents and primary caregivers of children with developmental delays to promote a sense of community and support
Encourage parents or primary caregivers to engage in education, activities, groups, or to seek the help of mental health professionals with the aim to learn skills and techniques that reduce parenting stress
Implications for Program Leaders
Provide education, activities, or promote curriculum that builds coping behaviors and decreases parental stress
Offer classes focused on teaching parents and caregivers to increase optimism and how that relates to the relationship they have with their child
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to support programs for the identification and prevention of stress in military families
Encourage the training of professionals to better identify parents of children with developmental delays who may also be experiencing high stress situations, including deployment and permanent change of station
Methods
Primary caregivers were recruited in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States from agencies specializing in early intervention and childhood special education programs.
Questionnaires and a family demographics interview were delivered in the mail and completed by the child's primary caregiver. Questionnaires include the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1.5-5, the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, the Revised Life Orientation Test (to measure optimism), and the Parent Feelings Questionnaire.
Researchers analyzed the data to examine the relationships between optimism, parenting stress, and positive and negative feelings toward children with developmental delays. The analyses primarily focused on how optimism can influence parents' feelings toward and their relationships with that child.
Participants
Participants were 119 primary caregivers of preschool-aged children. To be eligible, children had to meet state criteria for having a developmental delay.
Among the sample, parents and caregivers were mostly female (92%) and White (82%).
Within the group of female parents and caregivers, 79% were the children's biological mother.
Child demographics were 90% female and 77% were White.
Limitations
All measures were self-report from the parent or primary caregiver which may bias results (e.g., parents or caregivers might avoid discussing negative feelings they have toward their child).
Most of the participants of this study were White females recruited from the same region; therefore, the results may not be reflective of other groups or broader populations.
Data were only gathered once and therefore there is little understanding regarding whether levels of optimism influence positive and negative feelings or whether positive and negative feelings influence levels of optimism.
Avenues for Future Research
Use an observational design that observes child behavior and parent positive and negative affect during parent-child interactions
Diversify the sample by including parents, primary caregivers, and children of different ethnicities and military families to increase generalizability
Consider a longitudinal approach to examine how optimism and feelings about children with developmental delays affect each other over time
Focus
Civilian
Target Population
Population Focus
Abstract
Parents' positive and negative feelings about their young children influence both parenting behavior and child problem behavior. Research has not previously examined factors that contribute to positive and negative feelings in parents of young children with developmental delay (DD). The present study sought to examine whether optimism, a known protective factor for parents of children with DD, was predictive of positive and negative feelings for these parents. Data were collected from 119 parents of preschool-aged children with developmental delay. Two separate hierarchical linear regression analyses were conducted to determine if optimism significantly predicted positive feelings and negative feelings and whether optimism moderated relations between parenting stress and parent feelings. Increased optimism was found to predict increased positive feelings and decreased negative feelings after controlling for child problem behavior and parenting stress. In addition, optimism was found to moderate the relation between parenting stress and positive feelings. Results suggest that optimism may impact how parents perceive their children with DD. Future research should examine how positive and negative feelings impact positive parenting behavior and the trajectory of problem behavior specifically for children with DD.
Abstract Document
PRTW Document
Attach