Parenting Stress in the Parents with Mentally Retarded Children

Background: Parenting refers to the aspects of raising a child in terms of physical, social, emotional as well as over all development of the child aside from the biological relationship. Aim: The present study has been undertaken with the aim to assess parenting stress in the parents of mentally retarded children and parents of normal healthy children. Methods: A total of 100 respondents (50 parents of mentally retarded children and 50 parents of normal children) were selected by using purposive sampling technique. Further socio-demographic data sheet, General Health Questionnaire12 and Parenting Stress Index Scale were administered. Results: Parents of mentally retarded children showed parenting stress in comparison to parents of normal children. Parents of mentally retarded children had feeling of inability to handle things very easily. They feel trapped by their responsibilities as a parent. Parents of mentally retarded children showed parental distress and found to be having feeling that they are unable to do new and different things, they almost were unable to do things the way they like to do. They used to perceive that child rarely does things for them which make them feel good. They used to perceive that their child cry more than other children and generally wakes up in a bad mood and easily gets upset over the small things. Conclusions: Parents with mentally retarded children showed stress in the areas related to defensive response, parental distress, parent child dysfunctional interaction and difficult child in comparison to parents of normal children.