Objective: The purpose of this research project was to examine the relationship between parenting stress and a child’sability to functionally communicate within families who participated in an early intervention developmental disability program. Method: Using a two-group, cross-sectional survey design, this study explored the above relationship with respect to total stress as well as domain-specific stress. In addition, this study described how this relationship differed with respect to key demographic characteristics. Results: The findings from this study of 64 parents were statistically significant and informative. Conclusions: The findings suggest that a child’s ability to functionally communicate does negatively relate to the level of parenting stress in the parent-child subsystem. Implications for both social work practice and policy are presented.
Abidin, R. R. (1995). Parenting stress index: Professional manual (3rd ed.). Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.
2.
Asch, A., & Mudrick, N. R. (1995). Disability. In R. L. Edwards (Ed.), Encyclopedia of social work (19th ed., pp. 752-761). Washington, DC: National Association of Social Workers.
3.
Bailey, D. B., Skinner, D., Correa, V., Arcia, E., Reyes-Blanes, M. E., & Rodriquez, P. (1999). Needs and supports reported by families of young children with developmental disabilities. American Journal of Mental Retardation, 104, 437-451.
4.
Barlow, D. H., & Durand, V. M. (2002). Abnormal psychology: An integrative approach (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Group.
5.
Berk, L. E. (2001). Development through the lifespan (2nd ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
6.
Bondy, A. S., & Frost, L. A. (1994). The picture exchange communication system (PECS). Focus on Autistic Behavior, 9(3), 1-20.
7.
Boyce, G. C., & Behl, D. (1991). Child characteristics, family demographics and family processes: Their effects on the stress experienced by families of children with disabilities. Counseling Psychology Quarterly, 4, 273-289.
8.
Bristol, M. M. (1984). Family resources and successful adaptation to autistic children. In E. Schopler & G. B. Mesibuv (Eds.), The effects of autism on the family (pp. 290-380). New York: Plenum.
9.
Bryen, D. N., & Joyce, D. G. (1986). Sign language and the severely handicapped. Journal of Special Education, 20, 183-194.
10.
Deater-Deckard, K., & Scarr, S. (1996). Parenting stress among dual-earner mothers and fathers: Are there gender differences?Journal of Family Psychology, 10, 45-59.
11.
DeWeaver, K. L. (1995). Developmental disabilities: Definitions and policies. In R. L. Edwards (Ed.), Encyclopedia of social work (19th ed., pp. 712-720). Washington, DC: National Association of Social Workers.
12.
Dooley, P., Wilczenski, F. L., & Torem, C. (2001). Using an activity schedule to smooth transitions. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 3, 57-62.
13.
Esdaile, S. A., & Greenwood, K. M. (2003). A comparison of mother’s and father’s experience of parenting stress and attributions for parent-child interaction outcomes. Occupational Therapy International, 10, 115-127.
14.
Faerstein, L. M. (1981). Stress and coping in families of learning disabled children. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 14, 420-423.
15.
Freedman, R. I. (1995). Developmental disabilities: Direct practice. In R. L. Edwards (Ed.), Encyclopedia of social work (19th ed., pp. 721-729). Washington, DC: National Association of Social Workers.
16.
Herman, S. F., & Thompson, L. (1995). Families’ perception of their resources for caring for children with developmental disabilities. Mental Retardation, 33, 73-83.
17.
Hoppes, K., & Harris, S. L. (1990). Perceptions of child attachment and maternal gratification in mothers of children with autism and down syndrome. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 19, 365-371.
18.
Krauss, M. W. (1993). Child-related and parenting stress: Similarities and differences between mothers and fathers of children with disabilities. American Journal of Mental Retardation, 97, 393-404.
19.
Krauss, M. W., Upshur, C. C., Shonkoff, J. P., & Hauser-Cram, P. (1993). The impact of parent groups on mothers of children with disabilities. Journal of Early Intervention, 17, 8-20.
20.
Liddle, K. (2001). Implementing the picture exchange communication system. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 36, S391-S396.
21.
McGlone K., Santos, L., Kazama, L., Fong, R., & Mueller, C. (2002). Psychological stress in adoptive parents of special-needs children. Child Welfare, 81, 151-172.
22.
McKay, J. M., & Pickens, J. (1996). Inventoried and observed stress in parent-child interactions. Current Psychology, 15, 223-235.
23.
Nichols, M. P. (2003). Family therapy: Concepts and methods (6th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
24.
Noh, S., Dumas, J. E., Wolf, L. C., & Fisman, S. N. (1989). Delineating sources of stress in the parents of handicapped children. Family Relations, 38, 456-462.
25.
Rowland, C., & Schweigert, P. (2000). Tangible symbols: Tangible outcomes. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 16(2), 61-79.
26.
Saunders, E. J. (1995). Services for infants and toddlers with disabilities: IDEA, Part H.Health and Social Work, 20, 39-45.
27.
Schwartz, I. S., & Garfinkle, A. N. (1998). The picture exchange communication system: Communicative outcomes for young children with disabilities. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 18, 144-160.
28.
Stroebe, M. S. (2002). Paving the way: From early attachment theory to contemporary bereavement research. Mortality, 7, 127-139.
29.
Teel, C. S. (1991). Chronic sorrow: Analysis of the concept. Journal ofAdvanced Nursing, 16, 1131-1140.
30.
U.S. Bureau of the Census. (1997). Survey of income and program participation. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
31.
Vacca, J. J. (2001). Promoting positive child-caregiver attachment. Infants and Young Children, 13(4), 1-11.
