PsychologicalReports, 1992, 71, 1272-1274.
O Psychological Reports 1992
STRESS PROFILES FOR MOTHERS AND FATHERS O F CHILDREN W I T H AUTISM' DOUGLAS MOES AND ROBERT L. KOEGEL University of California, Santu Barbara LAURA SCHREIBMAN AND LAUREN M. LOOS University of California, San Diego Summary.-Stress profiles in 18 mothers vs 12 fathers of children with autism were compared on three measures, the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress, the Coping Health Inventory for Parents, and the Beck Depression Inventory. Mothers showed significantly more stress than fathers on each inventory, with a pattern suggesting stress may be related to the differing responsibility assigned to child rearing [or each parent.
Despite the abundance of research on stress associated with raising a child with autism and the resources effective for moderating those forms of stress (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 , 7), little research has focused on how mothers and fathers differentially experience and cope with that stress. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to identify possible differences in mothers' and fathers' Gvels of stress. Eighteen mothers (mean age 40 yr.; range 30 to 57 years) and 12 fathers (mean age 44 yr.; range 31 to 58 years) from our research project participated. All mothers were primary caretakers for their children; 12 were not employed, 4 worked part-time, and 2 worked full time. Atl fathers worked full time outside of the home. Their children with autism had a mean age of 6 years (range: 3 to 14 years). Data were obtained on the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress-Revised (2) with four scales shown in Table 1 below, the Coping Health Inventory for Parents, Form D (8) with three scales (cf. the table), and the Beck Depression Inventory indicating the respondents' depression; O to 9 represents nondepressed, 10 to 15 mild depression, 16 to 23 moderate depression, and 24 + severe depression. Type I1 independent sample t tests comparing mothers' and fathers' mean scores on each scale (cf. Table 1) indicated significantly higher stress for mothers than for fathers. Stress related to family and parent problems (cf. Scale 1 of questionnaire) suggests that mothers perceive greater stress for themselves, other family members, and the family as a whole in caring for the child with autism. C H I P mean scores on Scale 1 measure coping strate'Preparation of this manuscript was sup orted in part by PHs Research Grants MH28210 and MH39434 from the National Institute o r ~ e n t a Health, l and by U.S. Department of Education Cooperative Agreement G0087C0234 from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. Address correspondence to Robert L. Koegel, Autism Research Center, Graduate School of Education, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9490.
STRESS PROFILES IN PARENTS O F CHILDREN WITH AUTISM
1273
gies that reflect attempts to maintain family integration through cooperation. Mean Beck depression for mothers was nearly twice as high as that for fathers and near diagnosable depression, suggesting that mothers of children with autism are at greater risk for experiencing depression than are fathers. TABLE 1
MEANSAND STANDARD DEVIATIONS FORMOTHERS vs FATHERS BY SCALEON THREETESTS Measures
M
Mothers SD
M
Fathers SD
P
Questionnaire on Resources and Stress Scale 1, Parent Problems Scale 2, Child Self-sufficiency Scale 3, Child Behavior Scale 4, Child Physical Ability Coping Health Inventory Scale 1, Family Cooperation Scale 2, Psychological Stability Scale 3, Professional Consultation Beck Depression Inventory
These data show an interesting pattern of significantly higher scores on stress for mothers than for fathers on three inventories, suggesting that further systematic research might be quite important. While significant differences by chance might be noted on some scales, one would not expect by chance to find differences on all three, with mothers always showing higher stress than fathers. A possible reason for this may relate to family problems, given their role as primary caretaker of the child with autism. Mothers may be more likely to desire cooperation and optimism from others to ameliorate the stress they experience. Mothers also were at greater risk for experiencing depression. According to Milgram and Atzil ( 3 ) mothers who are primary caretakers for their children view children's shortcomings as failures on their part and appear susceptible to depressive symptoms. Fathers, however, in those circumstances can evaluate self-worth through career and ability to provide for the family. Here, fathers were actively engaged in careers outside the home, and all mothers identified themselves as the primary caretakers. One may speculate how perceived stress and depression may change as mothers increasingly pursue careers outside the home and contribute to family financial support, while fathers increasingly are taking a greater role in childrearing responsibhties. The present preliminary data suggest systematic research may be profitable in finding ways to ameliorate parenting stress associated with having a child with severe disabilities. REFERENCES 1. CAVANAGH, J., & ASHMAN, A. (1985) Stress in families with handicapped children. Australia and New Zealond lournal of Developmental Disabilities, 11, 15 1-156.
1274
D. MOES, E T A L .
2. CRNIC,K., FRIEDRICH, W., & GREENBERG, M. (1983) Adaptation of families with mentally retarded children: a model of stress, coping, and family ecology. American Journal on Mental Deficiency, 88, 125-138. 3. GALLAGIHER, J., BECKMAN, P, & CROSS,A. (1983) Families of handicapped children: sources of stress and its amelioration. Exceptional ChiMren, 50, 10-19. D., & VANDENBERG, B. (1992) Factors influencing adjustment in the families of 4. HENDERSON, autistic children. Psychological Reports, 71, 167-171. 5. HOLROYD, 1. (1974) The Questionnaire on Resources and Stress: an instrument to measure family response to a handicapped family member. Journal of Community Psychology, 2, 92-94. 6. KOEGEL,R. L., SC~EIBMAN, L., JOHNSON, J., O'NEILL, R. E., & DUNLAP,G. (1984) Collateral effects of parent training on families with autistic children. In R. F. Dangel & R. A. Polster (Eds.), Parent !raining: foundations of research and practice. New York: Guilford. Pp. 358-378. 7. KOEGEL,R. L., SCHREIBMAN, L., LOOS, L. M., DIRUCH-WILHELM,H., DUNLAP, G., Roesms, F. R., & PLIENIS,A. J. (1992) Consistent stress rofiles in mothers of children with autism. ]ournal of Autism and Developmen!al ~isorgers,22, 205-216. 8. McCueem, H. I., MCCUBBIN,M. A., & CAUBLE,E. (1979) CHIP: Coping Health Inventory for Parenb. St. Paul, MN: Univer. of Minnesota, Family Social Science. 9. MILGRAM,N. A., & ATZIL, M. (1988) Parenting stress in raising autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 18, 415-424.
Accepted November 5, 1932.
O Psychological Reports 1992
STRESS PROFILES FOR MOTHERS AND FATHERS O F CHILDREN W I T H AUTISM' DOUGLAS MOES AND ROBERT L. KOEGEL University of California, Santu Barbara LAURA SCHREIBMAN AND LAUREN M. LOOS University of California, San Diego Summary.-Stress profiles in 18 mothers vs 12 fathers of children with autism were compared on three measures, the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress, the Coping Health Inventory for Parents, and the Beck Depression Inventory. Mothers showed significantly more stress than fathers on each inventory, with a pattern suggesting stress may be related to the differing responsibility assigned to child rearing [or each parent.
Despite the abundance of research on stress associated with raising a child with autism and the resources effective for moderating those forms of stress (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 , 7), little research has focused on how mothers and fathers differentially experience and cope with that stress. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to identify possible differences in mothers' and fathers' Gvels of stress. Eighteen mothers (mean age 40 yr.; range 30 to 57 years) and 12 fathers (mean age 44 yr.; range 31 to 58 years) from our research project participated. All mothers were primary caretakers for their children; 12 were not employed, 4 worked part-time, and 2 worked full time. Atl fathers worked full time outside of the home. Their children with autism had a mean age of 6 years (range: 3 to 14 years). Data were obtained on the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress-Revised (2) with four scales shown in Table 1 below, the Coping Health Inventory for Parents, Form D (8) with three scales (cf. the table), and the Beck Depression Inventory indicating the respondents' depression; O to 9 represents nondepressed, 10 to 15 mild depression, 16 to 23 moderate depression, and 24 + severe depression. Type I1 independent sample t tests comparing mothers' and fathers' mean scores on each scale (cf. Table 1) indicated significantly higher stress for mothers than for fathers. Stress related to family and parent problems (cf. Scale 1 of questionnaire) suggests that mothers perceive greater stress for themselves, other family members, and the family as a whole in caring for the child with autism. C H I P mean scores on Scale 1 measure coping strate'Preparation of this manuscript was sup orted in part by PHs Research Grants MH28210 and MH39434 from the National Institute o r ~ e n t a Health, l and by U.S. Department of Education Cooperative Agreement G0087C0234 from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. Address correspondence to Robert L. Koegel, Autism Research Center, Graduate School of Education, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9490.
STRESS PROFILES IN PARENTS O F CHILDREN WITH AUTISM
1273
gies that reflect attempts to maintain family integration through cooperation. Mean Beck depression for mothers was nearly twice as high as that for fathers and near diagnosable depression, suggesting that mothers of children with autism are at greater risk for experiencing depression than are fathers. TABLE 1
MEANSAND STANDARD DEVIATIONS FORMOTHERS vs FATHERS BY SCALEON THREETESTS Measures
M
Mothers SD
M
Fathers SD
P
Questionnaire on Resources and Stress Scale 1, Parent Problems Scale 2, Child Self-sufficiency Scale 3, Child Behavior Scale 4, Child Physical Ability Coping Health Inventory Scale 1, Family Cooperation Scale 2, Psychological Stability Scale 3, Professional Consultation Beck Depression Inventory
These data show an interesting pattern of significantly higher scores on stress for mothers than for fathers on three inventories, suggesting that further systematic research might be quite important. While significant differences by chance might be noted on some scales, one would not expect by chance to find differences on all three, with mothers always showing higher stress than fathers. A possible reason for this may relate to family problems, given their role as primary caretaker of the child with autism. Mothers may be more likely to desire cooperation and optimism from others to ameliorate the stress they experience. Mothers also were at greater risk for experiencing depression. According to Milgram and Atzil ( 3 ) mothers who are primary caretakers for their children view children's shortcomings as failures on their part and appear susceptible to depressive symptoms. Fathers, however, in those circumstances can evaluate self-worth through career and ability to provide for the family. Here, fathers were actively engaged in careers outside the home, and all mothers identified themselves as the primary caretakers. One may speculate how perceived stress and depression may change as mothers increasingly pursue careers outside the home and contribute to family financial support, while fathers increasingly are taking a greater role in childrearing responsibhties. The present preliminary data suggest systematic research may be profitable in finding ways to ameliorate parenting stress associated with having a child with severe disabilities. REFERENCES 1. CAVANAGH, J., & ASHMAN, A. (1985) Stress in families with handicapped children. Australia and New Zealond lournal of Developmental Disabilities, 11, 15 1-156.
1274
D. MOES, E T A L .
2. CRNIC,K., FRIEDRICH, W., & GREENBERG, M. (1983) Adaptation of families with mentally retarded children: a model of stress, coping, and family ecology. American Journal on Mental Deficiency, 88, 125-138. 3. GALLAGIHER, J., BECKMAN, P, & CROSS,A. (1983) Families of handicapped children: sources of stress and its amelioration. Exceptional ChiMren, 50, 10-19. D., & VANDENBERG, B. (1992) Factors influencing adjustment in the families of 4. HENDERSON, autistic children. Psychological Reports, 71, 167-171. 5. HOLROYD, 1. (1974) The Questionnaire on Resources and Stress: an instrument to measure family response to a handicapped family member. Journal of Community Psychology, 2, 92-94. 6. KOEGEL,R. L., SC~EIBMAN, L., JOHNSON, J., O'NEILL, R. E., & DUNLAP,G. (1984) Collateral effects of parent training on families with autistic children. In R. F. Dangel & R. A. Polster (Eds.), Parent !raining: foundations of research and practice. New York: Guilford. Pp. 358-378. 7. KOEGEL,R. L., SCHREIBMAN, L., LOOS, L. M., DIRUCH-WILHELM,H., DUNLAP, G., Roesms, F. R., & PLIENIS,A. J. (1992) Consistent stress rofiles in mothers of children with autism. ]ournal of Autism and Developmen!al ~isorgers,22, 205-216. 8. McCueem, H. I., MCCUBBIN,M. A., & CAUBLE,E. (1979) CHIP: Coping Health Inventory for Parenb. St. Paul, MN: Univer. of Minnesota, Family Social Science. 9. MILGRAM,N. A., & ATZIL, M. (1988) Parenting stress in raising autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 18, 415-424.
Accepted November 5, 1932.
