Factors associated with parental distress.
OBJECTIVE
Associations of perceptions of social support, personal control, and child behavioral problems to distress in parents of children with mental health problems were examined.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty-five parents of children 2-19 years old receiving community mental health services participated.


RESULTS
Stepwise regression analysis identified internalizing and externalizing child behaviors, perceived personal control, and tangible social support as independent predictors of parental distress. Independent predictors of objective distress included internalizing child behaviors, perceived personal control, and intangible social support.


CONCLUSIONS
Internalizing and externalizing child behaviors were significantly associated with parental distress. Perceived personal control moderated the relationship between internalizing child behaviors and parental subjective distress.
Duchovic
Catherine A
CA
Department of Nursing, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, USA. duchovca@ipfw.edu
Gerkensmeyer
Janis E
JE
Wu
Jingwei
J
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult