Psychological Distress Trajectories of Parents of Children With Developmental Disabilities Participating in a Parenting Intervention

Background: Parents of children with developmental disabilities report higher levels of psychological distress. Parenting interventions may reduce parental psychological distress. Our aim was to investigate the psychological distress trajectories of parents receiving a parenting intervention.

Method: Data were drawn from a state-wide trial of Stepping Stones Triple P (SSTP) in Queensland and Victoria, Australia (n = 365 parents). Growth mixture modelling was used to describe psychological distress trajectories of parents of children with developmental disabilities and examine associations with the level of SSTP intervention received, child characteristics and financial hardship.

Results: Three groups of parents/caregivers were identified, two of which presented a significant decline in psychological distress over time and one group presented no significant change. Additionally, higher child behavioural and emotional problems and lower adaptive skills were associated with poorer parent psychological distress over time. Level 4 of the SSTP intervention was also associated with steeper declines in psychological distress over time.

Conclusions: Over a period of 18 months, with the implementation of the SSTP, parents' psychological distress tended to improve. Distinct groups of parents were identified based on different psychological distress trajectories. Findings indicate the significant role of child behavioural and emotional problems, children's adaptive behaviour and the level of SSTP in parent psychological distress trajectories.