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    Rights statement: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology on 26/02/2017, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/15374416.2017.1280805

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Parenting stress among caregivers of children with bipolar spectrum disorders

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

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  • Guillermo Daniel Perez Algorta
  • Heather A. MacPherson
  • Eric A. Youngstrom
  • Caroline C. Belt
  • L. Eugene Arnold
  • Thomas W. Frazier
  • H. Gerry Taylor
  • Boris Birmaher
  • Sarah McCue Horwitz
  • Robert L. Findling
  • Mary A. Fristad
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>2018
<mark>Journal</mark>Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
Issue numberSup1
Volume47
Number of pages15
Pages (from-to)S306-S320
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date26/02/17
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Caregivers of psychiatrically impaired children experience considerable parenting stress. However, no research has evaluated parenting stress within the context of pediatric bipolar spectrum disorders (BPSD). Thus, the aim of this investigation was to identify predictors and moderators of stress among caregivers in the Longitudinal Assessment of Manic Symptoms study. Participants included 640 children and their caregivers in the Longitudinal Assessment of Manic Symptoms cohort. Children had a mean age of 9.4 ± 1.9 years (68% male, 23% BPSD); parents had a mean age of 36.5 ± 8.3 years (84% mothers). Children with BPSD had more service utilization, psychiatric diagnoses, mood and anxiety symptoms, and functional impairment but fewer disruptive behavior disorders. Caregivers of children with BPSD were more likely than caregivers of children without BPSD to have a partner, elevated depressive symptoms, antisocial tendencies, and parenting stress (Cohen’s d = .49). For the whole sample, higher child IQ, mania, anxiety, disruptive behavior, and caregiver depression predicted increased parenting stress; maternal conduct disorder predicted lower stress. Child anxiety and disruptive behavior were associated with elevated caregiver stress only for non-BPSD children. Caregivers of children with BPSD experience significant burden and thus require specialized, family-focused interventions. As stress was also elevated, to a lesser degree, among depressed caregivers of children with higher IQ, mania, anxiety, and disruptive behavior, these families may need additional supports as well. Although parents with conduct/antisocial problems evidenced lower stress, these difficulties should be monitored. Thus, parenting stress should be evaluated and addressed in the treatment of childhood mental health problems, especially BPSD.

Bibliographic note

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology on 26/02/2017, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/15374416.2017.1280805