Original Article
Parent-Related Stress of Male and Female Carers of Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities and Carers of Children within the General Population: A Cross-Sectional Comparison
Kiri A. Patton,
Robert Ware,
Lyn McPherson,
Eric Emerson,
Nicholas Lennox,
Corresponding Author
Kiri A. Patton
School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
Correspondence
Any correspondence should be directed to Kiri A. Patton, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia (e-mail: [email protected]).
Search for more papers by this authorRobert Ware
Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability, The University of Queensland, Mater Hospital, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Qld, Australia
School of Population Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Qld, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorLyn McPherson
Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability, The University of Queensland, Mater Hospital, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Qld, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorEric Emerson
Centre for Disability Research & Policy, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Centre for Disability Research, Lancaster University, UK
Search for more papers by this authorNicholas Lennox
Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability, The University of Queensland, Mater Hospital, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Qld, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorKiri A. Patton,
Robert Ware,
Lyn McPherson,
Eric Emerson,
Nicholas Lennox,
Corresponding Author
Kiri A. Patton
School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
Correspondence
Any correspondence should be directed to Kiri A. Patton, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia (e-mail: [email protected]).
Search for more papers by this authorRobert Ware
Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability, The University of Queensland, Mater Hospital, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Qld, Australia
School of Population Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Qld, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorLyn McPherson
Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability, The University of Queensland, Mater Hospital, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Qld, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorEric Emerson
Centre for Disability Research & Policy, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Centre for Disability Research, Lancaster University, UK
Search for more papers by this authorNicholas Lennox
Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability, The University of Queensland, Mater Hospital, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Qld, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Background
Carers of children with intellectual disability show high rates of parent-related stress and are at an increased risk for deleterious physical and mental health.
Materials and Methods
This study investigated the relationship between demographic and social characteristics and parenting stress, within two different cross-sectional samples of carers: those who care for an adolescent with an intellectual disability and carers from a population based sample. Participants were 1152 carers from the Household Income and Labour Dynamic in Australia study and 284 carers of adolescents with intellectual disabilities from the Ask study.
Results and Conclusions
The results supported previous research suggesting carers of children with intellectual disabilities experience high parent-related stress. The results also support the buffer model of social support, as high social support was related to lower parent-related stress. Self-rated prosperity, financial pressure and relationship status were also related to lower levels of parent-related stress.
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