Parental perceptions of family adjustment in childhood disability : the role of parenting stress, parental self-esteem, and positive appraisal
Year: 2009
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Research into stress and coping has been extensive in psychological literature.Numerous variables have been examined as important to positive adaptation, both in individuals and families.These investigations have been largely guided by theoretical knowledge.In particular, families with children with disabilities have been the focus of research to determine what factors are important for these families in coping with stress.The current study was based on data from the Family Strengths in Childhood Disability Project which collected data from families entering services for children with disabilities.The current study was comprised of 97 mothers and 6l fathers.Based on the Double ABC-X model of family stress (McCubbin & Patterson, 1983) this research examined the impact of parenting stress, positive appraisal, and parental selÊesteem on parental perceptions of family adjustment.In addition, certain demographic variables were examined related to both parenting stress and family adjustment.Disability type was related to level of parenting stress for both mothers and fathers.Also, for both parents, parenting stress directly predicted perceived family functioning.Differences between mothers and fathers in the relationships between the variables of parenting stress, positive appraisal, parental selÊesteem, and family adjustment were also found.For fathers, self-esteem and positive appraisal were not individually significant in directly predicting perceived family adjustment.Exploratory analyses revealed that father's positive appraisal neither mediated nor moderated the relationship between parenting stress and family adjustment.Although self-esteem did not predict family adjustment directly, it did moderate the relationship between parenting stress and family adjustment for fathers.For mothers, parental education, single parent status, and the child's disability type were all related to 1V perceived family outcome.Direct predictive relationships were also found for both self- esteem and positive appraisal on perceived family adjustment for mothers.In addition, mediating relationships between parenting stress and both positive appraisal and parental selÊesteem on the outcome of family adjustment were identified for mothers.This study provides support for the role of self-esteem and positive appraisal in mediating the relationship between parenting stress and family adjustment for mothers.For fathers, the results suggest that self-esteem may impact on the relationship between parenting stress and family adjustment.The theoretical and practice implications of these findings including gender differences are discussed.Limitations of the current study are identified and directions for future research are suggested.
Source: Mspace (University of Manitoba)
Author: Thompson, Sandra N.
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7014266992