The purpose of this study was to examine how support and communication are related to hardiness in families who have young children with disabilities. A sample of 108 parents (54 couples) of preschool-age children with disabilities completed the measures. Among demographic variables, family income was positively correlated with family hardiness. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed perceived family support as a predictor of family hardiness for both parents. Incendiary communication was negatively related to family hardiness for mothers, whereas income was positively associated with fathers’ assessments of hardiness. Results provide family nurses with a foundation for exploring constructs important to help families with children with disabilities.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Allred, K. W.
(1992). Research review: Fathers of young children with disabilities. DEC Communicator, 18, 6-7.
2.
Alston, R. J.
, & McCowan, C. J. (1995). Perception of family competence and adaptation to illness among African Americans with disabilities. Journal of Rehabilitation, 61, 27-32.
3.
Anderson, K.
, & Tomlinson, P. (1992). The family health system as an emerging paradigmatic view for nursing. Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 24, 57-63.
4.
Bennett, T.
, DeLuca, D. A., & Allen, R. W. (1996). Families of children with disabilities: Positive adaptation across the life cycle. Social Work in Education, 18, 31-44.
5.
Boyce, G. C.
, Behl, D., Mortensen, L., & Akers, J. (1991). Child characteristics, family demographics and family processes: Their effects on the stress experienced by families of children with disabilities. Counseling Psychology Quarterly, 4, 273-288.
6.
Breresford, B. A.
(1994). Resources and strategies: How parents cope with the care of a disabled child. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 35, 171-209.
7.
Bristol, M. M.
(1987). Mothers of children with autism or communication disorders: Successful adaptation and the Double ABCX Model. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 17, 469-486.
8.
Bristol, M. M.
, Gallagher, J. J., & Schopler, E. (1988). Mothers and fathers of young developmentally disabled and non-disabled boys: Adaptation and spousal support. Developmental Psychology, 24, 441-451.
9.
Byrne, E. A.
, & Cunningham, C. C. (1985). The effects of mentally handicapped children on families: A conceptual review. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 26, 847-864.
10.
Donnelly, E.
(1994). Parents of children with asthma: An examination of family hardiness, family stressors, and family functioning. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 9, 398-408.
11.
Dunst, C. J.
, Jenkins, V., & Trivette, C. M. (1988). The family support scale. In C. J. Dunst, C. M. Trivette, & A. G. Deal (Eds.), Enabling and empowering families: Principles and guidelines for practice (p. 157). Cambridge, MA: Brookline Books.
12.
Dunst, C. J.
, Trivette, C. M., & Cross, A. H. (1986). Roles and support networks of mothers of handicapped children. In R. R. Fewell & P. F. Vadasy (Eds.), Families of handicapped children: Needs and supports across the life span (pp. 167-191). Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.
13.
Dyson, L. L.
(1997). Fathers and mothers of school-age children with developmental disabilities: Parental stress, family functioning, and social support. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 102, 267-279.
14.
Failla, S.
, & Jones, L. C. (1991). Families of children with developmental disabilities: An examination of family hardiness. Research in Nursing and Health, 14, 41-50.
15.
Frey, K. S.
, Greenberg, M. T., & Fewell, R. R. (1989). Stress and coping among parents of handicapped children: A multidimensional approach. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 94, 249-249.
16.
Hadadian, A.
(1994). Stress and social support in fathers and mothers of young children with and without disabilities. Early Education and Development, 5, 226-235.
17.
Hodapp, R. M.
(1995). Parenting children with Down syndrome and other types of mental retardation. In M. H. Bornstein (Ed.), Handbook of parenting: Vol. 1: Children and parenting (pp. 233-253). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
18.
Kazak, A. E.
(1986). Families with physically handicapped children: Social ecology and family systems. Family Process, 25, 265-281.
19.
Kobasa, S.
(1979). Stressful life events, personality, and health: An inquiry into hardiness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37, 1-11.
20.
Kobasa, S.
(1982). The hardy personality: Toward a social psychology of stress and health. In J. Suls & G. Sanders (Eds.), Social psychology of health and illness (pp. 3-22). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
21.
Kobasa, S.
, Maddi, S., & Courington, S. (1981). Personality and constitution as mediators in the stress-illness relationship. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 22, 368-378.
22.
Kobasa, S.
, Maddi, S., & Kahn, S. (1982). Hardiness and health: A prospective study. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 42, 168-177.
23.
Koeske, G. F.
, & Koeske, R. D. (1990). The buffering effect of social support on parental stress. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 60, 440-451.
24.
McCubbin, H. I.
, McCubbin, M. A., & Thompson, A. I. (1993). Resiliency in families: The role of family schema and appraisal in family adaptation to crisis. In T. H. Brubaker (Ed.), Family relations: Challenges for the future (pp. 153-177). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
25.
McCubbin, H.
, & Thompson, A. (1989a). Balancing work and family life on Wall street: Stockbrokers and families coping with economic instability. Edina, MN: Bellweather Press.
26.
McCubbin, H.
, & Thompson, A. (1989b). Work and family stress in the banking industry: Coping with the farm crisis and its aftermath. Madison: University of Wisconsin.
27.
McCubbin, H. I.
, Thompson, A. I., & McCubbin, M. A. (1996). Family assessment: Resiliency, coping and adaptation-Inventories for research and practice. Madison: University of Wisconsin.
28.
McCubbin, H. I.
, Thompson, A., & Pimer, P. (1986). Family rituals, typologies, and family strengths. Family stress, coping, and health project. Madison: University of Wisconsin.
29.
McCubbin, M. A.
, & McCubbin, H. I. (1989). Theoretical orientations to family stress and coping. In C. R. Figley (Ed.), Treating stress in families (pp. 3-43). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
30.
McCubbin, M. A.
, & McCubbin, H. I. (1991). Family stress theory and assessment: The resiliency model of family stress, adjustment, and adaptation. In H. I. McCubbin & A. I. Thompson (Eds.), Family assessment inventories for research and practice (pp. 3-34). Madison: University of Wisconsin.
31.
McCubbin, M. A.
, & McCubbin, H. I. (1992). Families coping with illness: The resiliency model of family stress, adjustment, and adaptation. In C. B. Danielson, B. Hamel-Bissell, & P. Winstead-Fry (Eds.), Families, health, and illness (pp. 21-53). Baltimore: C. V. Mosby.
32.
McCubbin, M. A.
, McCubbin, H. I., & Thompson, A. I. (1996). Family Problem Solving Communication index (FPSC). In H. I. McCubbin, A. I. Thompson, & M. A. McCubbin (Eds.), Family assessment: Resiliency, coping, and adaptation-Inventories for research and practice (pp. 639-686). Madison: University of Wisconsin.
33.
McCubbin, M. A.
, McCubbin, H. I., & Thompson, A. I. (1991). FHI Family hardiness index. In H. I. McCubbin & A. I. Thompson (Eds.), Family assessment inventories for research and practice (pp. 127-136). Madison: University of Wisconsin.
34.
Moriarty, H. J.
(1990). Key issues in the family research process: Strategies for nurse researchers. Advances in Nursing Science, 12, 1-14.
35.
Pollock, S. E.
(1989). The hardiness characteristic: A motivating factor in adaptation. Advances in Nursing Science, 11, 53-62.
36.
Quine, L.
, & Pahl, J. (1991). Stress and coping in mothers caring for a child with severe learning difficulties: A test of Lazarus’ transaction model coping. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 1, 57-70.
37.
Ray, L. D.
, & Ritchie, J. A. (1993). Caring for chronically ill children at home: Factors that influence parents’ coping. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 8, 217-225.
38.
Singer, G.H.S.
, & Irvin, L. K. (Eds.). (1989). Family caregiving, stress, and support. In G.H.S. Singer & L. K. Irvin (Eds.), Support for caregiving families: Enabling positive adaptation to disability (pp. 3-25). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.
39.
Sorensen, E. S.
(1993). Children’s stress and coping: A family perspective. New York: Guilford.
40.
Stagg, V.
, & Catron, T. (1986). Networks of social supports for parents of handicapped children. In R. R. Fewell & P. F. Vadasy (Eds.), Families of handicapped children: Needs and supports across the life span (pp. 279-295). Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.
41.
Stainton, T. S.
, & Besser, H. (1998). The positive impact of children with an intellectual disability on the family. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 23, 57-70.
42.
Trivette, C. M.
, & Dunst, C. J. (1992). Characteristics and influences of role division and social support among mothers of pre-school children with disabilities. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 12, 367-385.
43.
Valentine, D. P.
(1993). Children with special needs: Sources of support and stress for families. Social Work and Human Sexuality, 12, 107-121.
