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Attribution for maternal stress in children with different special needs
Author
Yamagata, Chihiro
Supervisor
Li, J-Y. (Jen-Yi)
Abstract
Having a child with special needs is a life-long commitment and uniquely stressful experience for every parent. The study attempted to clarify how mothers of children with various special needs in Singapore perceived their parental distress through survey study, exploring the relationship amongst a type of child’s special needs, mother’s demographic characteristics and perception of helpfulness of family social support. A convenience sample of 139 mothers participated in the study. Data was collected using self-administrated questionnaire in various sites such as special needs school and private agencies in Singapore. ANOVA, multiple liner regression, and descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. Instruments used included a Parenting Stress Index Short Form (PSI-SF), and a modified version of Family Support Scale (FSS) as well as a demographic information sheet. The findings indicated that child’s type of special needs was not associated with level of maternal stress. However, family’s socioeconomic status (SES) was a significant predictor and mothers’ perceptions of helpfulness of informal support (from friends, other parents, neighbours, and colleagues) inversely predict the degree of parental stress (the more helpful it is perceived, the more stress mothers experience). The patterns of mothers’ perception of the family social support were explored and analysed. The study revealed insights of cultural influence of how Asian mothers of children with special needs view themselves when receiving family social support.
Date Issued
2011
Call Number
HQ759.913 Yam
Date Submitted
2011