Parenting stress in mothers of children with disabilities: a comparative study

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to explore the differences in the level of parenting stress among the mothers of children with hearing impairment [C-HI], mothers of children with intellectual disabilities, mild [C-ID], and mothers of children without any disability [C-WOD]. The sample comprised of 145 niothers of children divided into mothers of C-HI, [N=56]; mothers of C-ID [N= 37]; and mothers of C-WOD [N=52]. Parenting Stress Index [Abidin, 1995] was administered to measure the stress related to parenting. One Way ANOVA indicated that there is significant difference in the level of parenting stress between mothers of C-HI, mothers of C-ID and mothers of C-WOD. Post hoc comparisons using Tukey 's HSD indicated higher level of parenting stress in both mothers of C-HI and mothers of C-ID in contrast to mothers of C-WOD. However, the mean difference between mothers of C-HI and mothers of C-ID was found to be insignificant. These findings are suggestive of higher parenting stress in mothers of children with disabilities. Limitations and avenues for future research were suggested