Stress experienced by mothers of Malaysian children with mental retardation.

Abstract

Objective To compare parenting stress among Malaysian mothers of children with mental retardation and a control group, and to determine factors associated with stress.

Method Seventy-five mothers of children with mental retardation aged 4 to 12 years and 75 controls (paediatric clinic attenders without disabilities) participated in the Parenting Stress Index (PSI). Intelligence quotient (IQ) and Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) scores, together with socio-economic data, were entered into a multiple stepwise regression analysis, using the PSI as the criterion.

Results Mothers of children with mental retardation scored significantly higher than control subjects in both the child-related domain (difference between means 26.1) and parent-related domain (difference between means 15.0) of the PSI. The total child behaviour scores from the CBCL (p < 0.01), IQ scores (p < 0.01) and sibship size (p < 0.01) were associated with child-related domain scores. For the patient-related domain, CBCL (p < 0.01) and IQ scores (p = 0.01) remained important factors, but Chinese ethnicity (p < 0.01) and maternal unemployment (p < 0.01) were also significant predictors of stress.

Conclusion A large proportion of mothers of children with mental retardation experienced substantial parenting stress, especially Chinese and unemployed mothers, and this warrants appropriate intervention.