Predictors of Psychological Morbidity in Parents of Children with Intellectual Disabilities

Citation

Gallagher S, Phillips AC, Oliver C & Carroll D (2008) Predictors of Psychological Morbidity in Parents of Children with Intellectual Disabilities. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 33 (10), pp. 1129-1136. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsn040

Abstract
Objective This study examined predictors of excess psychological morbidity in parents of children with intellectual disabilities. Methods Thirty-two parents of children with intellectual disabilities and 29 parents of typically developing children completed the Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale, and measures of social support, child problem behaviors, sleep quality, and perceived caregiver burden. Results Parents of children with intellectual disabilities registered high depression and anxiety scores, and the majority met the criteria for possible clinical depression and/or anxiety. The strongest predictor of psychological morbidity was caregiver burden. Analyses of its component dimensions indicated that feelings of guilt held the greatest consequence for depression and anxiety. Conclusions Caregiver burden, in general, and its guilt component, in particular, predicted symptoms of depression and anxiety in parents of children with intellectual disabilities. Assisting such parents to resolve their feelings of guilt should benefit their psychological status.

Keywords
anxiety; caregiving; depression; parents of children with intellectual disability

Journal
Journal of Pediatric Psychology: Volume 33, Issue 10

People

Professor Anna Whittaker

Professor of Behavioural Medicine, Sport