title: Allostatic load in parents of children with developmental disorders: moderating influence of positive affect.
abstract: This study examines whether parents of children with developmental disorders are at risk of elevated allostatic load relative to control parents and whether positive affect moderates difference in risk. In all, 38 parents of children with developmental disorders and 38 matched comparison parents were analyzed. Regression analyses revealed a significant interaction between parent status and positive affect: parents of children with developmental disorders had lower allostatic load when they had higher positive affect, whereas no such association was evident for comparison parents. The findings suggest that promoting greater positive affect may lower health risks among parents of children with developmental disorders.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.
authors.forename: Jieun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Marsha R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mailick
authors.forename: Carol D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Ryff
authors.forename: Christopher L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Coe
authors.forename: Jan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: Jinkuk
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D052636:Allostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000523:psychology; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: allostatic load; developmental disorders; negative affect; positive affect