A comparison of parenting stress between mothers of children with spina bifida and able-bodied controls.
OBJECTIVE
To compare parenting stress between mothers of children with spina bifida (SB) and able bodied controls.


METHODS
Sixty-six mothers of children with SB and controls (matched for age, sex and ethnicity) completed the Parenting Stress Index Short Form (PSI/SF) and General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). Each child's adaptive skills was assessed using the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales (VABS).


RESULTS
Mothers of children with SB had significantly higher scores for GHQ-12 and the Parental Distress (PD), Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction (P-CDI) and Difficult Child (DC) sub-scales of the PSI/SF, even after adjusting for socioeconomic and caregiver status. Single parent status, having a child with SB and higher Life Stress scores were associated with higher PD and DC scores. Lower VABS scores were associated with higher P-CDI scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Factors such as recent life change events, single parent status and the child's adaptive skills modify the impact of spina bifida on parenting stress.
Department of Paediatrics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. onglc@ppukm.ukm.my
Lai Choo
LC
Ong
Nazli A R
NA
Norshireen
Vijayalakshmi
V
Chandran
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires