Parenting stress and depression in children with mental retardation and developmental disabilities

doi:10.1016/0891-4222(94)90012-4

Research in Developmental Disabilities

Volume 15, Issue 3, May–June 1994, Pages 209-221

https://doi.org/10.1016/0891-4222(94)90012-4 Get rights and content

Abstract

Although many types of behavioral and emotional disorders are prevalent in children with developmental delays, the phenomenology of childhood depression in this population remains poorly understood. This study examined the relationships among symptoms of depression, child problem behaviors, and parenting stress in a sample of 29 children with developmental delays. Results supported the usefulness of the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) in assessing depression in these children initially reported by Matson, Barrett, and Helsel (1988). Parent ratings from the CDI were significantly associated with maternal depression, an index of DSM-III-R depression criteria, and negative self-image, anxiety and conduct problems in children. A matched subsample of children (n = 12) with high versus low depression ratings revealed significant differences in total scores from the Parenting Stress Index (Abidin, 1986) and the index of DSM-III-R depression criteria. Together, these data suggest that children with developmental delays exhibit a similar pattern of symptoms and associated characteristics to those found in normal children with diagnoses of depression.

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Parenting stress and depression in children with mental retardation and developmental disabilities

Abstract

Research in Developmental Disabilities

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Behavior Research and Therapy

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry

Research in Developmental Disabilities

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Parenting Stress Index-manual

Manual for the child behavior checklist and revised child behavior profile

Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders

Childhood depression: An explanation of a behavior disorder of children

Perceptual and Motor Skills

Emotional problems in mentally retarded children

Depressive conditions in mentally handicapped children

Acta Paedopsychiatrica

Depressed children of depressed parents

Canadian Journal of Psychiatry

Rating scales to assess depression in school-age children

Acta Paedopsychiatrica

Affective disorders in children and adolescents

American Psychologist