1. Objectifs

Intentions :
« [T]he objective of the present study was to clarify the potential relationships between parent stress and child characteristics, to examine whether, within the context of EI [early intervention], children with DD [developmental disabilities] can improve their behaviour and adaptive skills over a period of approximately two years. The secondary objective was to evaluate whether positive changes in the children (e.g., behaviour and adaptive skills) are related to reduced parent stress between the initial time of assessment and follow-up. » (p. 41-42)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
« Participants were part of a larger longitudinal National Early Intervention Research Initiative (NEIRI) [...]. » (p. 43) The sample of this study consisted of 56 families of children with DD.

Instruments :
- Questionnaires
- Guide d’entretien semi-structuré

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

In this study, « [...] predictors and correlates of stress were examined in parents of children with DD who attend early intervention (EI) programs (n = 21). Families participated in two rounds of data collection, approximately two and a half years apart. At Time 1 child behaviour problems significantly predicted parent stress (ß = .71, t (53) = 7.47, p < .0001). Between Time 1 and Time 2 child behaviour problems decreased significantly (t (19) = 2.13, p < .05), as did parent stress (t (19) = 3.58, p = .002). At Time 2, child behaviour problems were significantly related with parent stress (r (19) = .74, p < .0001), and so was child adaptive functioning (r (19) = -.53, p < .05). » (p. 5) « In general, this research makes a significant contribution to the current discourse on the role of child characteristics on parent stress. The results underscore the importance of looking more closely at the relationship between child behaviour problems in children with DD and their parents’ stress. » (p. 55)