TY - JOUR

T1 - Social support, coping, and positive perceptions as potential protective factors for the well-being of mothers of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

AU - Halstead, Elizabeth

AU - Griffith, Gemma

AU - Hastings, Richard

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - Objectives: Behavioral and emotional problems exhibited by children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have been identified as significant stressors for family members in both cross-sectional and longitudinal research. However, there is variability in the extent to which family members are affected by behavioral and emotional problems. In the present study, we explored whether perceived social support, positive perceptions, or coping style explain some of this variability and specifically whether these three variables function as protective factors.Methods: One hundred and thirty-eight mothers of children aged between four and 18 years old with IDD participated in a cross-sectional survey.Results: Using moderated multiple regression models, we found consistent evidence that perceived social support functioned as a protective factor — affecting the relationship between child behavioral and emotional problems and maternal depression, life satisfaction, and positive affect. There was no evidence that coping and positive perceptions acted as a protective factors.Conclusion: Building social support through parental interventions, especially in families of children with behavioral and emotional problems, may result in improved well-being for mothers of children with IDD.

AB - Objectives: Behavioral and emotional problems exhibited by children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have been identified as significant stressors for family members in both cross-sectional and longitudinal research. However, there is variability in the extent to which family members are affected by behavioral and emotional problems. In the present study, we explored whether perceived social support, positive perceptions, or coping style explain some of this variability and specifically whether these three variables function as protective factors.Methods: One hundred and thirty-eight mothers of children aged between four and 18 years old with IDD participated in a cross-sectional survey.Results: Using moderated multiple regression models, we found consistent evidence that perceived social support functioned as a protective factor — affecting the relationship between child behavioral and emotional problems and maternal depression, life satisfaction, and positive affect. There was no evidence that coping and positive perceptions acted as a protective factors.Conclusion: Building social support through parental interventions, especially in families of children with behavioral and emotional problems, may result in improved well-being for mothers of children with IDD.

U2 - 10.1080/20473869.2017.1329192

DO - 10.1080/20473869.2017.1329192

M3 - Article

VL - 64

SP - 288

EP - 296

JO - International Journal of Developmental Disabilities

JF - International Journal of Developmental Disabilities

SN - 2047-3869

IS - 4-5

ER -