Financial and psychological stressors associated with caring for children with disability.
The magnitude of stress and associated health consequences experienced by caregivers compromises their ability to effectively provide care to children, especially children with disability. We used latent class analysis of data from the 2010 Ohio Family Health Survey and identified 3 distinct classes of caregivers based on patterns of responses to 15 financial and psychological stresses they experienced. Compared with children residing in households in which caregivers experienced very little or no stress, children with disability were twice as likely to reside with caregivers with high levels of financial stress and almost 3.5 times as likely to reside with caregivers with high levels of financial stress and very high levels of psychological stress than typically developing children. Reducing caregiver stress is a critical step to ensuring the best health outcomes possible for children with disability. We identify the heterogeneity that is present in the population of caregivers by virtue of patterns of responses to various financial and psychological stressors. Children with disability are more likely to live in households in which a greater number of stressors affect caregivers. Different confounders are also associated with the latent classes of stress we identify. This is an important implication when determining the right interventions to target to the right subpopulations.
Center for Applied Research and Evaluation, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
Anthony
A
Goudie
College of Education and Health Professions, University of Arkansas.
Marie-Rachelle
MR
Narcisse
Program for Children with Medically Complex Needs, Department of Pediatrics, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt University.
David E
DE
Hall
Center for Applied Research and Evaluation, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
Dennis Z
DZ
Kuo
D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires