Journal Article

Mental Health and Well-Being in Mothers of Children With Rare Genetic Syndromes Showing Chronic Challenging Behavior: A Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Study

Oliver, Chris, Griffith, Gemma, Howlin, Pat, Adams, Dawn, Clarke, Samantha, Tunnicliffe, Penny, Moss, Jo, Petty, Jane

2018

Overview

It is well documented that mothers of children with challenging behavior (CB) experience elevated levels of stress and that this persists over time, but less is known about the experience of mothers of children with rare genetic syndromes. This article describes 2 studies, 1 cross-sectional and 1 longitudinal, comparing well-being in mothers of children with Angelman, Cornelia de Lange and Cri du Chat syndrome who have either shown chronic CB (n = 18) or low/no CB (n = 26) in the preceding 7 years. The presence of chronic, long-term CB increased maternal stress but not depression or anxiety, and did not influence positive well-being. Stress relating specifically to their child's genetic syndrome reduced with age, highlighting the need for further exploration in this area.

• Publisher: American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities,Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subject: Activities of Daily Living / Adolescent / Adult / Age Differences / Angelman Syndrome - physiopathology / Angelman Syndrome - psychology / Anxiety / Anxiety - psychology / Autism / Autism Spectrum Disorders / Behavior disorders / Behavior Problems / Case-Control Studies / Child / Child Behavior / Children / Children & youth / Cri du chat syndrome / Cri-du-Chat Syndrome - physiopathology / Cri-du-Chat Syndrome - psychology / Cross-Sectional Studies / De Lange Syndrome - physiopathology / De Lange Syndrome - psychology / Depression (Psychology) / Developmental disabilities / Down Syndrome / Etiology / Families & family life / Female / Genetic Disorders / Genetics / Humans / Intellectual disabilities / Intellectual Disability / Learning disabilities / Longitudinal Studies / Male / Maternal depression / Maternal stress / Medical research / Mental depression / Mental Health / Middle Aged / Mothers / Mothers - psychology / Parents / Parents & parenting / Problem Behavior - psychology / Rare Diseases / Self destructive behavior / Stress / Stress Variables / Stress, Psychological - psychology / Well Being / Young Adult