Article2007

Psychological variables as correlates of adjustment in mothers of children with intellectual disabilities: cross‐sectional and longitudinal relationships

132 citations0/0 files storedJournal of Intellectual Disability Research

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Family and Disability Support Research Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions Down syndrome and intellectual disability research

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Existing research studies suggest that parenting a child with intellectual disabilities (ID) can be a stressful experience. However, there are few data addressing the question of how or why parents might experience considerable distress. In the present study, psychological variables (acceptance, mindfulness, avoidant coping) are explored that may explain some variance in maternal distress. METHOD: Questionnaire data were gathered from mothers of children attending special schools at two time points, 18 months apart (n = 91 at Time 1; n = 57 at Time 2). In addition to measures of the child's functioning, the questionnaire pack included: a measure of acceptance of unwanted thoughts/feelings; a measure of attention to the present (mindfulness); a measure of active avoidance coping; measures of maternal anxiety, depression and stress; and a measure of mothers' positive perceptions of their child. RESULTS: In cross-sectional analysis, acceptance was negatively associated with maternal anxiety, depression and stress, such that mothers who were generally more accepting reported fewer psychological adjustment problems. Longitudinal analysis showed that acceptance is bidirectionally related to anxiety and depression. Mindfulness was not significantly related to maternal distress, and avoidance coping was positively cross-sectionally associated with depression only. There were no associations between psychological variables and maternal positive perceptions. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that acceptance, in particular, may be a construct that explains some variance in maternal distress. Further research could focus on the utility of acceptance-based interventions (e.g. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) in the support of families with a child with ID.

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References

1983The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale 1997The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: A Research Note 2003The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being.1997You want to measure coping but your protocol’ too long: Consider the brief cope 2005Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Model, processes and outcomes 1999Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: An Experiential Approach to Behavior Change 2003Mindfulness Training as a Clinical Intervention: A Conceptual and Empirical Review 2005The impact of behaviour problems on caregiver stress in young people with autism spectrum disorders

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2009Emotional and behavioural adjustment in siblings of children with intellectual disability with and without autism 2010Predictors of parenting stress among Malaysian mothers of children with Down syndrome 2008Mindful Parenting and Care Involvement of Fathers of Children with Intellectual Disabilities 2016Do Children With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Have a Negative Impact on Other Family Members? The Case for Rejecting a Negative Narrative

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