Relationships Between Stress, Coping Resources, and Satisfaction with Family Functioning in Families of Children with Disabilities

Abstract

The purpose of the current descriptive correlational study was to examine relations between stress, coping resources, and satisfaction with family functioning in families caring for children with developmental disabilities at home. Fifty families who used the services of a respite care program were surveyed to examine relationships among child characteristics (behavioral problems and handicapping conditions); coping resources including mastery and health, esteem and communication, family hardiness, and social support; and the primary outcome variable of satisfaction with family functioning. Families of children with developmental disabilities experience significant stressors in terms of the severity of their child's handicapping conditions and behaviour problems. However, they reported satisfactory coping resources such as mastery and health, hardiness, and esteem and communication. Although they were lower than normative scores, social support scores for spouses and friends were related to satisfaction with family functioning. Implications for practitioners are discussed.