Do Psychological Characteristics of Mothers Predict Parenting Stress? A Cross-Sectional Study among Mothers of Children with Different Disabilities

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: We aimed at assessing the parenting stress levels among mothers of children with different disabilities and its association with various mothers' psychological characteristics. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 302 mothers of 6-12 years old children suffering from sensory motor mental, chronic physical and psychological disabilities were enrolled. Parenting stress, coping stratyles, marital satisfaction and psychological problems of mothers were assessed using validated questionnaires. RESULTS: In this study, mothers of 302 children with sensory-motor mental (n = 64), psychological (n = 149) and chronic physical (n = 89) disabilities were investigated. Mean total score of parenting stress was significantly higher in mothers of children with psychological disabilities (F = 4.285, P < 0.05). There was positive significant relationship between emotion oriented coping style and parenting stress scores (beta = 0.56, P < 0.05). Parenting stress had significant negative association with marital satisfaction (beta = -0.3, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated different parenting stress levels among mothers of children with different disabilities. Mother's psychological characteristics such as marital satisfaction, psychological problems and coping styles are significant determinants of parenting stress. These findings provide baseline information for designing future interventional studies and developing more effective approaches for managing the parenting stress.