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Stressed parents, happy parents. An assessment of parenting stress and family quality of life in families with a child with Phelan‐McDermid syndrome
Author(s) -
Droogmans Gilles,
Vergaelen Elfi,
Van Buggenhout Griet,
Swillen Ann
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1468-3148
pISSN - 1360-2322
DOI - 10.1111/jar.12858
Subject(s) - feeling , psychology , developmental psychology , quality of life (healthcare) , clinical psychology , stress (linguistics) , social psychology , linguistics , philosophy , psychotherapist
Background Individuals with Phelan–McDermid syndrome (PMS) are characterised by phenotypical traits that can be experienced as challenging by their environment. This study assessed parenting stress and Family Quality of Life (FQOL) in parents of individuals with PMS and identified potential contributing variables. Method Mothers ( n = 14) and fathers ( n = 13) of individuals with PMS ( n = 14; 6 females, 8 males; age 2–37, M = 20, SD = 11.92) completed questionnaires on parenting stress, FQOL, adaptive behaviour and background characteristics. Results Mothers and fathers experienced high, similar and related levels of parenting stress and FQOL satisfaction. Parenting stress and FQOL satisfaction were inversely related. High and low ratings were retrieved for subscales measuring feelings of parental role restriction and emotional well‐being, respectively. The adaptive skills of the individuals with PMS were related to fathers’ parenting stress and FQOL satisfaction. Conclusions Clinical practice is encouraged to be attentive to family dynamics and grasp opportunities to interact with these dynamics.