American Journal on Mental Retardation · 2002 · 720 citations · 28 references
Social SciencesBehavioral SciencesPsychologyChild DevelopmentDevelopmental PsychologyDevelopmental PsychopathologyDevelopmental DelayFamily StressFamily StressorsNeurodevelopmental DisordersParent-child InteractionParentingDisorderNeurodevelopmental Delay
Children and adolescents with mental retardation are at heightened risk for mental disorder. The study examined early evidence of behavior problems in 225 three‑year‑old children with or without developmental delays and the relative impact of cognitive delays and problem behaviors on their parents. The study used staff‑completed Bayley Behavior Scales and parent‑completed Child Behavior Checklists to assess behavior problems. Children with developmental delays exhibited markedly higher behavior problems—3 to 4 times the likelihood of a clinical CBCL score—and their parents experienced greater stress, with child behavior problems being a stronger predictor of parenting stress than cognitive delay.
Children and adolescents with mental retardation are at heightened risk for mental disorder. We examined early evidence of behavior problems in 225 three-year-old children with or without developmental delays and the relative impact of cognitive delays and problem behaviors on their parents. Staff-completed Bayley Behavior Scales and parent-completed Child Behavior Checklists (CBCLs) showed greater problems in children with delays than in those without delays. Children with delays were 3 to 4 times as likely to have a total CBCL score within the clinical range. Parenting stress was higher in delayed condition families. Regression analyses revealed that the extent of child behavior problems was a much stronger contributor to parenting stress than was the child's cognitive delay.
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