Karnataka J. Agric. Sci.

,25 (2) : (256-259) 2012

Parenting stress of normal and mentally challenged children

NARMADA HIDANGMAYUM AND PUSHPA B. KHADI

Department of Human Development, College of Rural Home Science
University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad - 580 005, India
Email: hnarmada@[Link]
(Received : July, 2010 ; Accepted: May, 2012)
Abstract: A differential research design to compare the level of parenting stress of normal and mentally challenged children
was undertaken on a sample of 30 mentally challenged children and 60 normal children of age group 5-10 years. Abidin’s
(1995) Parenting stress index- short form was used to assess the level of parenting stress. The results revealed that higher per
cent of parents of mentally challenged had clinically significant parenting stress (73.4%) than parents of the normal children
(21.7%).

Key words: Distress, Mentally challenged children, Normal children, Parenting stress
Introduction Material and methods
Parenting is a challenging process. The crucial role of The present study was undertaken to know the parenting
parents and family in caring, nurturing, protecting and stress of normal and mentally challenged children studying in
socializing young children is well established across the primary school and special school respectively in Hubli-
cultures. Strong parent-child connectedness improves child Dharwad city of Karnataka during year 2009-2010. A differential
academic outcomes, self esteem, mental health and has later research design was used to compare the parenting stress of
protective effects of reducing the likelihood of alcohol and mentally challenged and normal children. Mentally challenged
drug use in adolescence, high risk sexual behaviour and children studying in special schools and normal children
involvements in interpersonal violence (Lezin et al., 2004). studying in normal school formed the population. The final
Parenting can influence children’s social, emotional, and sample for mentally challenged children and normal children
academic adjustment, efforts have been made to determine constituted 30 parents of mentally challenged children and 60
factors that affect parenting behavior. One such factor is parents of normal children respectively. Tools used for the study
parenting stress. Parenting stress can be defined as excess were General information schedule to elicit information about
anxiety and tension specifically related to the role of a parent the children and parents regarding age, gender, family type,
and to parent-child interactions (Abidin, 1995). family composition, caste, religion, ordinal position, education
When the parents learn that the child is having some form of and income of parents. Information regarding regularity of
disability, it causes enormous distress to them. Giving birth to a the child in attending school and social support services
mentally challenged children or other disabled child is an available for domestic chores from other family members was
unexpected stressful event which affects the whole family. Such also gathered. Parenting Stress Index – Short Form (PSI-SF)
an event may impair family development and may continue over was administered to the mother of the selected children
time affecting the entire family system. The presence of a mentally (Abidin, 1995). The items of parenting stress is not designed
challenged child in the family has far reaching implication for the to assess the stress that parents experience related to other
family as a whole. The impact of the disability and problem life roles and life events. The PSI was originally used with
associated with it are not restricted to the child but extend far parents who have at least fifth grade reading levels. There
beyond the child and affects a number of areas of family are three factors/ subscales which are assessed by the PSI-
functioning as well as individual’s adjustment. Parents go SF. Parental distress (PD), Parents-Child Dysfunctional
through intense emotional and psychological stress and may interaction (PCDI) and Difficult Child (DC). The PSI-SF
have fewer resources of emotional gratification. They may consists of 36 items that are rated on a five point scale. Scores
consider mentally handicapped child as a threat to their self anchored from ‘strongly agree’ with five score to strongly
esteem and view themselves as a source of disability. They disagree with a score of one with higher scores indicating
struggle to cope with the financial costs, parents also are greater stress. The PSI-SF total stress scores is the sum of
confronted with new and unexpected experiences. Parents with the three subscales which range from 36-180. On pretesting
disabled child may have higher levels of stress and lower levels the coefficient of reliability by using split half method was
of well being than with the normal children (Rangaswamy and found to be 0.93 which was significant.
Bhavani, 2008). Teachers were requested to send the questionnaire of
In order to have better understanding of the factors that general information and parenting stress through the child to
influence parenting stress which plays a crucial role in the parents. The filled questionnaire was collected through
development of child both normal and challenged, the present school teachers. The collected data was analyzed by using the
study was undertaken with the objective to compare the level of frequency and percentages, Modified Chi-Square was used to
stress among parents between normal and mentally challenged see the association and student t-test was used to test the
children. differences between the two groups (Chacko, 1966)
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Karnataka J. Agric. Sci.,25 (2) : 2012

Table 1. Parenting stress of normal and mentally challenged children Table 3. Parental distress (percentages) experienced by mothers of normal
Level of Parents and mentally challenged children
parenting Normal Mentally Chi-Square Statements Normal Mentally
stress children challenged Children challenged
(N=60) children children
(N=30) N=60 N=30
Low 14 0 I often have the feeling that I cannot handle
(36-55) (23.3) (0.00) things very well. 9 (15.00) 13 (43.30)
Normal 29 4 I find myself giving up more of my life to
(56-85) (48.3) (13.3) meet my child/ children’s needs than I ever
High 4 4 28.41*** expected 34 (56.66) 20 (66.66)
(86-90) (6.7) (13.3) I feel trapped by my responsibilities as a
Clinically 13 22 parent. 20 (33.33) 21 (70.00)
significant (21.7) (73.4) Since having this child, I have been unable
(90- above) to do new and different things. 23 (38.30) 16 (53.40)
*** Significant at the 0.001 level of probability. Since having a child, I feel that I am almost
Figure in parenthesis indicates percentage. never able to do things that I like to do. 6 (10.00) 9 (30.00)
There are quite a few things that bother me
Results and discussion about my life. 12 (20.00) 23 (76.60)
The results of parenting stress of the parents of normal and Having a child has caused more problems
mentally challenged children are presented in Table 1. A perusal than I expected in my relationship with my
of the table reveals that in case of parents of normal children spouse. 2 (3.30) 8 (26.70)
I feel alone and without friends. 5 (8.40) 4 (13.30)
48.3 per cent of the parents depicted normal level of parenting
When I go to a party, I usually expect not
stress followed by 23.3 per cent having low and 21.7 per cent of
to enjoy myself. 8 (13.30) 9 (30.00)
the parents having stress at a clinically significant level. A close I am not as interested in people as I used
examination of Table 1 shows that, none of the parents of mentally to be. 12 (20.00) 11 (36.70)
challenged children fell in low level of parenting stress. It was I don’t enjoy things as I used to. 12 (20.00) 12 (40.00)
found that maximum number of parents of mentally challenged Figure in parentheses indicate percentage.
children were in clinically significant category (73.3%) followed
by 13.3 per cent equally distributed in normal and high level of that they were trapped by the responsibilities as parent and 66
parenting stress. Significant association was observed between per cent found themselves giving up more time of their life to
the group and level of parenting stress indicating that parents meet their children needs than ever expected. About 53 percent
of mentally challenged children were in higher proportion in of the parents had been unable to do new and different thing,
high stress level that normal group. The comparison of the mean since having a child about 43 percent of the parents of mentally
score of parenting stress (104.5) also revealed (Table 2) that challenged children felt that they could not handle the things
parents of mentally challenged children had significantly higher very well and 40 per cent of them did not enjoy things as they
mean score than parents of normal children (74.56). used to.
A close examination of the Table 3 illustrates the qualitative On parents’ child’s dysfunctional interaction (Table 4) it was
analysis of parental stress among normal and mentally observed that the children to meet parents’ expectation and
challenged children. In case of normal children, the maximum parents’ interaction was not reinforcing for both normal and
distress was observed stating parents give more of their life to mentally challenged children. In case of the parents among
meet their children’s need than they ever expected (56.66%), normal children, about 28.3 per cent of the parents experienced
38.30 per cent stating they were unable to do new and about 33 that their children rarely does thing that make them feel good as
per cent felt that they were trapped with the responsibilities. against 76.7 percent of parents of mentally challenged child
Among the parents of mentally challenged children, 76.6 per and 25 per cent expected to have closer and warmer feelings for
cent revealed that there were quite a few things that bothered their child than they did and this bothered them as against 40
them about their life. About 70 per cent of the parents reported percent of mentally challenged child. About 60 per cent felt that
their child did things that bother them and 60 per cent also
Table 2. Comparison of mean score of parenting stress between normal reported that their children were not able to do as much as they
and mentally challenged children. expected as against 21.6 per cent and 11.6 per cent respectively
Parents Number of Mean ‘t’ value of normal children. Half of the parents of mentally challenged
parents (SD)
children realized that it took a long time and it was very hard for
Normal children 60 74.56
their child to get used to new things as against only 8.3 per cent
(23.05) 6.061***
of normal children and 33.3 percent of the parents get the feeling
Mentally 30 104.5 that their efforts are not appreciated very much. Around
challenged (19.48) 36 per cent of the parents feel that they are the person who had
children some trouble of being a parent as against 7 per cent of normal
*** Significant at the 0.001 level of probability. children. On parent child difficult interaction also parents of the

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Parenting stress of normal and mentally .....

Table 4. Parent child dysfunctional interaction experienced by mothers Table 5. Parenting stress related to difficult child experienced by mothers
of normal and mentally challenged children of normal and mentally challenged children
Statements Normal Mentally Statements Normal Mentally
Children challenged Children challenged
N=60 children N=60 children
N=30 N=30
My child rarely does things for me that My child seems to cry or fuss more often
make me feel good. 17 (28.30) 22 (76.70) than most children. 8 (13.30) 13 (43.30)
Most time I feel that my child does not My child generally wakes up in a bad
like me and does not want to be close mood. 8 (23.40) 7 (13.40)
to me 3 (5.00) 7 (23.30) I feel that my child is very moody and
My child smiles at me much less than I easily upset. 11 (18.40) 9 (30.00)
expected 5 (8.80) 5 (16.70) My child does a few things which bother
When I do things for my child, I get the me a great deal 9 (15.00) 19 (63.40)
feeling that my efforts are not appreciated My child reacts very strongly when
very much 7 (11.60) 10 (33.30) something happens that my child
When playing, my child doesn’t often doesn’t like 25 (41.70) 18 (60.00)
giggle or laugh 7 (11.60) 2 (6.60) My child gets upset easily over the
My child doesn’t seem to learn as quickly smallest thing 17 (28.30) 13 (43.40)
as most children 7 (11.60) 10 (23.70) My child’s sleeping or eating schedule
My child doesn’t seem to smile as much was much harder to establish than I
as most children 7 (11.60) 8 (26.60) expected 7 (11.70) 10 (33.30)
My child is not able to do as much as I I have found that getting my child to do s
expected 7 (11.60) 18 (60.00) omething or stop doing something is much
It takes a long time and it is very hard harder than I expected 6 (10.00) 16 (53.40)
for my child to get used to new things 5 (8.30) 15 (50.00) My child turned out to be more of a
I feel that I am a person who has some problem than I had expected 2 (3.30) 10 (33.30)
trouble being a parent 4 (6.70) 11 (36.70) My child makes more demands on me
I expected to have closer and warmer than most children¨ 13 (22.20) 8 (23.30)
feelings for my child than I do and this Figure in parentheses indicate percentage.
bothers me 15 (25.00) 12 (40.00)
Sometimes my child does things that
for parents of pre-schoolers without delays. So management
bother me to be mean 13 (21.60) 21 (60.00)
Figure in parentheses indicate percentage. might be more stressful than in normal group. The severity of
the child’s disability is one of the great predictors of parenting
mentally challenged children experienced difficulty interaction stress. The sample consisted of 33.3 per cent of severe mental
than their normal counterpart. retardation and 66.7 per cent of with association disability. The
With respect to child’s temperament, non compliance, intensity level of various psychological problems faced by the
demandingness and defiance (Table 5) it was observed that 41.7 parents of mentally retarded (MR) children had direct linkages
per cent of parents of normal children reported that their child with the level of retardation of their child (Upadhyay and Singh,
reacted very strongly when something happened that they did 2009). So, more parenting stress for parents of mentally
not like and 28.3 per cent of the children got upset easily for the challenged children. For any parent of a disabled child, the most
smallest thing, while 22.2 per cent made more demands on them stress producing factors is the child’s characteristics demand
than most children and 23.4 per cent reported that their child dependence for the daily activities or finding opportunities for
generally woke up in a bad mood. In case of the mentally the child to make friends or orchestrating activities for more
challenged children, more than half of the parents reported that participation in social activities (Lopez et al., 2008).
their child did thing which bothered them a great deal, their The birth of a retarded child at home is likely to be one of the
children reacted very strongly when something happens, getting most traumatic events experienced by the parents as well as
their child to do something or stop doing something was much their family. Parents of the children in the family undergo a variety
harder than they expected . Majority of them revealed that their of changes to adapt to the presence of disabled members. Most
children turned out to be more of a problem than they had parents expect that their children will be attractive, smart,
expected. The parenting stress of mentally challenged children graceful, athletic and loving. Parents of a handicapped child not
was significantly higher than that of normal children. only mourn the loss of unfulfilled expectations but often face
Lopez et al. (2008) also reported that parents of children with enormous strain on their psychological and economic resources
developmental delays experienced greater stress than children (Kumar, 2008). Family adaptation is also influenced by prior’s
without delay. Floyd and Galladjhar, (1997) also observed that psychological makeup, availability and quality of professional
parents of children with intellectual disability often experienced services, marital interaction, religious beliefs, attitudes, family
considerable stress resulting from worries and demand related size and structure and socio-economic status. The presence of
to their children. Similarly, Baker et al. (2003) found that parenting mental retardations in the family creates additional needs on the
stress was higher for parents of pre-schoolers with delays than family resources and its perception of the events. Unmet needs
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tangible or intangible however creates psychological stress may develop (Vijesh and Sukuraman, 2007). The mothers might
(Kumar, 2008). have also experienced various degrees of psychological distress
It can also be said that normal children progress from one due to parental reaction towards the irreversity of the intellectual
developmental stage to the next their parents observe them with disability, social stigma, and anticipation of future and caring
pride, anxiety and alarm. Parents have expectation on them based demands (Al Kuwari, 2007). Hence it can be concluded that
on social, family and experiential standards. When the children’s parenting stress of mentally challenged children was much higher
behaviour deviates from the established standards, family crisis than that of the normal children.

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