Stress and coping behaviors of substance-abusing mothers.
OBJECTIVE
To examine parenting stress and coping behaviors in substance-abusing and non-substance-abusing mothers.


METHODS
A comparative descriptive design.


METHODS
Pediatric primary care clinic.


METHODS
Low-income, predominantly African-American mothers (N = 60) of young children recruited from a pediatric primary care clinic. Thirty mothers were known substance abusers and 30 had no known history of substance abuse.


METHODS
Parenting Stress Index/Short Form (PSI/SF) and Child Protective Service (CPS) validation of abuse or neglect.


RESULTS
Substance-abusing mothers scored significantly higher than comparison mothers on total stress and the three subscales of the PSI/SF: parent-child dysfunctional interaction, difficult child, and parental distress. Forty-seven percent of substance-abusing mothers scored in the clinical range on total stress compared with only 3.3% of non-substance-abusing mothers. Proportionately more substance-abusing mothers than comparisons demonstrated maladaptive parenting behaviours as evidenced by CPS-confirmed abuse or neglect of their youngest child.


CONCLUSIONS
Substance-abusing mothers of young children are at increased risk for increased levels of stress and maladaptive coping behaviors. Substance-abusing mothers need support and monitoring in the parenting role and referrals to substance-abuse and parenting programs.
Kelley
S J
SJ
College of Health and Human Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, USA. SKELLEY@gsu.edu
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*