Coping with stress in parents of children with developmental disabilities

Abstract Background/Objective: Previous findings indicated that parents of children with developmental disabilities face greater care giving demands and report higher levels of stress. This study explores the styles and strategies of coping with stress among parents of children with developmental disabilities compared to parents of children with typical development. Method: 167 parents of children with developmental disabilities and 103 parents of typical development children participated as a voluntary. The CISS and the COPE Inventory were used to assess the coping styles and strategies in rearing a child. Results: The results from Multivariate Analysis indicated significant differences between parents of children with and without developmental disabilities in one of three coping styles and one of eight coping strategies. Parents of children with developmental disabilities less often used the avoidance-oriented style and emotional support strategy. The task-oriented style and strategies were the dominant approach in both groups of parents. In stressful situations connected with rearing a child, parents of children with developmental disabilities do not use as dominant strategies connected with seeking emotional support and religion, which occur in the parents of typical development children. Conclusions: The results suggest areas where coping may be different than in families of children without DD. (AU)

Resumen Antecedentes/Objetivo: Investigaciones previas muestran que los padres con hijos que padecen trastornos del desarrollo deben hacer frente a mayores demandas de atención y reportan mayor estrés. El presente estudio compara los estilos y estrategias de afrontamiento del estrés utilizados de los padres de hijos con trastornos del desarrollo con los utilizados por padres de hijos con desarrollo típico. Método: Participaron 167 padres de niños con trastornos del desarrollo y 103 padres de niños que muestran un desarrollo típico. Los inventarios CISS y COPE se utilizaron para evaluar los estilos y estrategias de afrontamiento. Resultados: Los resultados indicaron diferencias significativas entre los padres de hijos con y sin trastornos del desarrollo en uno de los tres estilos de afrontamiento y una de las ocho estrategias, utilizando con menos frecuencia el estilo orientado a la evitación y la estrategia de apoyo emocional, siendo los orientados a la tarea el enfoque dominante. En situaciones estresantes, los padres de niños con trastornos del desarrollo no utilizaron las estrategias de búsqueda de apoyo emocional o la religión. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren un afrontamiento diferente al de las familias con hijos sin discapacidades. (AU)

Coping with stress in parents of children with developmental disabilities.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Previous findings indicated that parents of children with developmental disabilities face greater care giving demands and report higher levels of stress. This study explores the styles and strategies of coping with stress among parents of children with developmental disabilities compared to parents of children with typical development. METHOD: 167 parents of children with developmental disabilities and 103 parents of typical development children participated as a voluntary. The CISS and the COPE Inventory were used to assess the coping styles and strategies in rearing a child. RESULTS: The results from Multivariate Analysis indicated significant differences between parents of children with and without developmental disabilities in one of three coping styles and one of eight coping strategies. Parents of children with developmental disabilities less often used the avoidance-oriented style and emotional support strategy. The task-oriented style and strategies were the dominant approach in both groups of parents. In stressful situations connected with rearing a child, parents of children with developmental disabilities do not use as dominant strategies connected with seeking emotional support and religion, which occur in the parents of typical development children. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest areas where coping may be different than in families of children without DD.

RESUMEN ANTECEDENTES/OBJETIVO: Investigaciones previas muestran que los padres con hijos que padecen trastornos del desarrollo deben hacer frente a mayores demandas de atención y reportan mayor estrés. El presente estudio compara los estilos y estrategias de afrontamiento del estrés utilizados de los padres de hijos con trastornos del desarrollo con los utilizados por padres de hijos con desarrollo típico. MÉTODO: Participaron 167 padres de niños con trastornos del desarrollo y 103 padres de niños que muestran un desarrollo típico. Los inventarios CISS y COPE se utilizaron para evaluar los estilos y estrategias de afrontamiento. RESULTADOS: Los resultados indicaron diferencias significativas entre los padres de hijos con y sin trastornos del desarrollo en uno de los tres estilos de afrontamiento y una de las ocho estrategias, utilizando con menos frecuencia el estilo orientado a la evitación y la estrategia de apoyo emocional, siendo los orientados a la tarea el enfoque dominante. En situaciones estresantes, los padres de niños con trastornos del desarrollo no utilizaron las estrategias de búsqueda de apoyo emocional o la religión. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados sugieren un afrontamiento diferente al de las familias con hijos sin discapacidades.

The Assessment of the Usefulness of Selected Markers in the Diagnosis of Chronic Kidney Disease in Children.

INTRODUCTION: The kidney deterioration, which starts in childhood often leads to end-stage renal failure in the future. Therefore, searching for an early, sensitive, and specific biomarkers became a paramount for chronic kidney disease diagnosis. The aim of this study was the assessment of markers: KIM-1, FGF-23, NAG, NGAL, and uromodulin for diagnosis of preclinical phase of the disease in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 59 children (15 boys, 44 girls from 6 months to 17 years old) with kidney disorders, which had clinical indications for renoscintigraphy, were included in the study. All patients were divided depending on the result of renoscintigraphy (renal scarring vs normal kidney picture) and depending on the level of estimated glomerular filtration rate (glomerular hyperfiltration vs normal filtration rate). The concentration of uromoduline, KIM-1, FGF-23, NAG, and NGAL in serum and of NGAL and uromoduline in urine were measured in all studied groups. RESULTS: The children with glomerular hyperfiltration had a statistically significantly higher serum values of FGF-23 and NGAL than the children with normal filtration rate (P < .05). There were no statistically significant differences in serum concentrations of tested markers in children with renal scars in comparison to children with normal renal image. There was no statistically significant difference in the concentration of tested markers in urine. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirmed the possible usefulness of FGF-23 and NGAL in detecting the preclinical-stage of renal disease associated with glomerular hyperfiltration in children. The study do not allow to indicate markers, which could be useful in the early diagnosis of kidney damage visible in the scintigraphic examination.

Parenting and Future Anxiety: The Impact of Having a Child with Developmental Disabilities.

This study examined differences in future anxiety (FA) among mothers and fathers of children with and without developmental disabilities (DD), and it also analyzed differences in FA within the group of parents of children with DD taking into consideration parent-related factors and child-related factors. A group of 167 parents of children with DD were compared to a group of 103 parents of children with typical development. The group with DD included children with autism spectrum disorders, sensory disorders, and intellectual disability. Parents completed the Future Anxiety Scale-FAS1. Mothers of children with DD had a higher general level of FA than fathers of children with and without DD. Mothers of children with DD reported higher anxiety about their future health and the meaning of their future life than fathers of children with DD. For parents of children with DD, those with lower education, male children, and older children reported higher FA. The group at risk of highest general FA are mothers of children with DD, especially those without a professional career. Similarly, parents of teenagers and/or sons with DD are at increased risk of FA.