Parental cognitions, stress and coping in parents of children with developmental disabilities
The review examines the literature in relation to parental cognitions and their relationship to child behaviour in parents of children with intellectual disability. It is generally recognised that mental health difficulties are at least partly influenced and maintained by cognitive differences and style. A literature search was carried out to identify articles relevant to parental locus of control, self-efficacy and attributions of behaviours in people with intellectual disability. It is argued that there is a need to develop a multidimensional model of parental cognition to fully describe parental cognitions and their relations to child behaviour and parental mental health. Within the empirical paper, parental perceptions of their child’s genetic syndrome were explored using the Common Sense Model of Illness Representations (Leventhal et al., 1980). Associations between parental perceptions, coping behaviours, affect and mental health were explored. Participants completed the Illness Perceptions Questionnaire Revised for Genetic Syndromes, measures of positive and negative affect, anxiety and depression and coping behaviours. Findings provide preliminary support for the hypothesis that the Common Sense Model of Illness Representations can be applied to the caregivers of children with rare genetic syndromes. Findings suggest that illness representations may have important implications for coping strategies and caregiver wellbeing.