Maternal and paternal stress in families with school-aged children with disabilities

This study examined stress factors in families with a school-aged child with a disability. Path analyses revealed that children's demandingness and neediness for care was related more to maternal stress and that child's acceptability was related more to paternal stress. Professionals who serve families with children with disabilities may need to devise more specialized support programs to help fathers become emotionally close to their atypical children and may need to provide more respite services for mothers. To assist parents of school-aged children with disabilities, support services may also need to extend beyond the usual early childhood period.