Parenting a Child with a Disability

HDFS 3359 unit 3

developmental disabilities

conditions that ersult from cognitive and or physical impairments

identified before 22 & last throughout lifetime

developmental disabilities

1 in 6

people have a developmental disability

11% (6.4) of children

have ADHA

ADHD

neurobehavioral syndrome characterized by inappropriate levels of inattention & distractibility &/or hyperactivity or impulsivity, impairment in adaptive funciton at home, school, & social settings

autism

1 in 50 children (most common developmental disorder)

cerebral palsy

1-323 children (2nd most common; most common motor disability

down syndrome

1-700 (most common chromosomal disorder)

5% of children in public schools

have a learning disability

biggest predictor of stress for families with children with disabilities

a negative perception of child’s disability

mother’s negative perception of child’s disability

child’s challenging behaviors

fathers negative perception

social acceptance of child

ADHD diagnosis

lower levels of parenting self-esteem (parenting efficacy and satisfaction; sense of competence parents feel as a parent

Autism Diagnosis

Behavior issues contributed to higher levels of stress, increased pessimism about child's future, higher risk for parental depression

Down syndrome diagnosis

Higher levels of parental/family functioning, lower stress, report more positive experiences raising their child, over time report more concerns when child ages 

protective family factors

marriage equality, positive family environment, family cohesion, parental involvement, parenting self-esteem, problem-focused coping,

problem-focused coping

• seeking out solution and social support to problems

  • Less depression, pessimism, higher levels of emotional well-being, increased positive affect 

risk factors for family

high stress child behaviors, leads to more distress for family/parents

risk factors for family

emotion-focused coping; managing stress through avoidance, denial, escape

risk factors for families

external locus of control (parent)- lower perceived control associated with higher stress