Mothers and fathers of children and adolescents with Down syndrome experience parenting stress differently: Analysis on associated factors

Background: Caregivers of children and adolescents with intellectual disability, including Down syndrome (DS), experience higher levels of parental stress in comparison with caregivers of typically developing youths. However, existing research primarily focuses on maternal stress, with limited exploration of potential differences between mothers and fathers and the factors associated with their parental stress experience. Aims: The current study had two aims: (i) to explore whether there are differences in parental stress levels between fathers and mothers of school-aged children with DS; (ii) to explore possible differences between mothers and fathers in the patterns of association between parenting stress reports and the child's clinical features. Methods and procedures: This retrospective chart review involved a group of 79 couple of parents of children and adolescents with DS that underwent a neuropsychological evaluation, whereas parents completed parent-report measures. The clinical examination included the evaluation of child's cognitive and linguistic abilities and parent-report measures to investigate parenting stress by the Parenting Stress Index- Short Form (PSI), and child's behavioural and adaptive functioning. Outcomes and results: Mothers exhibited higher levels of parenting stress, particularly for the Parenting Distress and Difficult Child subscales of the PSI. Moreover, only paternal, but not maternal parenting stress, was associated with child's IQ. Conversely, the levels of maternal, but not paternal parenting stress were associated with child's adaptive functioning. Differential patterns of association between parenting stress also emerged for child's emotional and behavioural issues. Finally, we found that only maternal stress was associated with linguistic abilities. The regression model revealed that maternal parenting stress levels were significantly predicted by child's adaptive skills, whereas paternal parenting stress levels were significantly predicted by child's maladaptive behaviours. Conclusions and implications: Mothers and fathers of children with DS experience parenting stress differently. Recognizing these differences between parents, treatment providers, especially those who provide parent-training or parent-mediated interventions, can tailor their approach as needed.