Journal Article

Effectiveness of a Training Program in the Management of Stress for Parents of Disabled Children

Mañas-Rodriguez, Miguel A, López-Liria Remedios, Aguilar-Parra, José M, Rocamora-Pérez, Patricia, Vargas-Muñoz, Estela, Padilla-Góngora, David

2020

Overview

ObjectivesChildren suffering from disabilities require special care that may influence their family environment and result in parental stress. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a stress-management program for parents with disabled children.MethodsThe experimental procedure included a pre-test, post-test and 6-month follow-up evaluation of the stress levels, and adaptation and parental coping strategies. Seven 90-min long group sessions were held once a week in the experimental group and their satisfaction with the program was assessed. The principal aspects of the program were stress and coping strategies conceptualization, relaxation training, control of breathing, cognitive restructuring of a sense of guilt, training on coping skills, problem-solving, rewarding activities, improving self-esteem, assertive communication, the importance of humor and optimism, and value of social support.ResultsSignificant differences were seen between the pre- and post-test scores of the majority of the evaluated variables, except for the use of avoidance strategies, in the experimental group. In addition, compared to the control group, the experimental group showed significant improvements in various indices after the intervention.ConclusionThe development of a stress management training program is more effective than no treatment for parents of disabled children. Family intervention programs can improve parental response to stress factors.

• Publisher: Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Avoidance behavior / Children / Children with disabilities / Cognitive restructuring / Concept formation / Control Groups / Coping / Coping strategies / Experimental Groups / Families & family life / Family Environment / Groups / Guilt / Home environment / Humor / Intervention / Management / Management Development / Management development programmes / Optimism / Parent-child relations / Parental stress / Parenthood education / Parents / Parents & parenting / People with disabilities / Pretests Posttests / Problem solving / Relaxation / Relaxation training / Research Methodology / Satisfaction / Self esteem / Social support / Stress / Stress management / Stress management training / Suffering / Test scores / Training