title: Accommodative coping and well-being of midlife parents of children with mental health problems or developmental disabilities.
abstract: This study examined how accommodative coping via flexible goal adjustment affects the wellbeing of midlife parents. Using data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, a population-based study of midlife adults, the authors compared parents who have a child with a severe mental health problem, a child with a developmental disability, or a child with no chronic illness or disability. Overall, parents had better well-being (i.e., lower levels of depressive and physical symptoms, higher levels of environmental mastery and self-acceptance) if they used accommodative coping. This effect was stronger for parents of individuals with a severe mental health problem than for the comparison group.
authors.affiliation: Waisman Center and School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
authors.forename: Marsha Mailick
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Seltzer
authors.forename: Jan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: Frank J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Floyd
authors.forename: Jinkuk
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*