Description
The current study examines the relationship between parent stress and parent-child interactions in young children with a high likelihood of autism. Research examining parent stress has indicated that parenting stress affects parenting practices. Stress management interventions have been found to effectively reduce the stress of parents with children with developmental disabilities, but there are a limited number of studies that examine the impact of stress on day-to-day interactions within these families. We characterized parent-reported stress levels and positive parenting behaviors in a snapshot of parent-child interaction, and then analyzed whether a relationship was present between these two factors. This examination is meant to inform the need for stress-focused interventions for families of young children with autism. Participants included 33 children between the ages of 12 and 30 months and their caregivers. Each caregiver completed a set of standardized questionnaires, including the Parenting Stress Index, and recorded a 10-minute play interaction with their child, which was then coded using the Parent Interactions with Children: Checklist of Observations Linked to Outcomes (PICCOLO). Looking closely at family relationships and how stress affects the whole family, it was hypothesized that parents with higher levels of stress may engage in fewer positive parenting behaviors during parent-child interaction. Parents displayed a range of positive parenting behaviors when interacting with their young children and demonstrated clinically elevated levels of stress. There were no significant correlations between parent stress and parent behaviors within parent-child interactions. Although the results were not as predicted, they are highly encouraging in revealing that parents are successful at engaging in developmentally appropriate play regardless of their child’s social-communication challenges. Keywords: autism, parent stress, parent-child interaction
