Children's Resilience to Ongoing Border Attacks: The Role of Father, Mother, and Child Resources

To understand children's resilience to ongoing violent border attacks (low PTSD symptoms and internalizing/externalizing behavior problems, and high sense of coherence-SOC), this study examined a multidimensional model of protective resources. This model comprised factors at the family level (fathers'/mothers' coping strategies and SOC) and at the individual level (children's coping strategies and attachments with father/mother). Participants were 251 Israeli father-mother-child triads living near the border with Gaza (children ages 9-12 years). Preliminary analyses indicated children's prevalence of clinical PTSD was 6%. SEM analyses revealed the theoretical model's high fit with empirical data, χ2(1) = .00, p = .99, CFI = 1, TLI = 1, SRMR = .00, RMSEA = .00 [90% CI (.00, .00)]. More significant paths emerged between fathers' coping resources and children's resilience measures than for mothers' coping resources. Results also pinpointed the significant role of children's parental attachments and coping strategies. Discussion focused on the unique value of father, mother, and child risk/protective factors for explaining well-adjusted functioning among children living in conflict areas.

Coping with stress of mothers of children with disorders belonging to autism spectrum

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between coping styles in mothers of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the severity of their children’s symptoms.

Material and method: The study included a group of 70 women raising children with a medical diagnosis of ASD. The children with the aforementioned pervasive developmental disorders were from 5 to 16 years old and were patients of the Mental Health Centre in Kielce, Poland. A study involved: our own survey; the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) by R. Goodman; the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) questionnaire by Endler and Parker; the Sense of Coherence Scale SOC-29 by Antonovsky; the Set of Questionnaires for the Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASRS) by S. Goldstein and J. A. Naglieri.

Results: The mothers’ preference for emotion-focused and avoidance coping styles was found to correlate significantly with their low sense of coherence and the severity of their child’s ASD symptoms measured with ASRS and SDQ.

Conclusions: 1. Emotion-focused and avoidance coping styles were associated with a low sense of coherence in the surveyed women.

2. The mothers’ preference for emotion-focused and avoidance coping styles was associated with increased ASD symptoms, more severe emotional and behavioral deficits and poorer peer interactions in their children.

3. The mothers’ preference for problem-focused coping correlated with a low severity of their children’s social and communication deficits.

Parental Stress and Family Quality of Life: Surveying Family Members of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities

(1) Background. This study assesses the quality of life in families with a member with an intellectual disability using the Family Adjustment and Adaptation Response framework. (2) Methods. The study included 515 Spanish participants whose family members with disabilities range in age from infancy to adulthood. We hypothesized that it is possible to predict parenting stress by paying attention to the meaning families give to themselves and their circumstances while controlling for the impact of other variables such as family capabilities and characteristics of the family member with disabilities. We used the Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale and the section on Exceptional needs of medical and behavioral support from the Supports Intensity Scale, together with other potential predictors. The subscale on parental stress from the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form was utilized as a criterion measure. (3) Results. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that 49% of parental stress was predicted by dysfunctional interaction, difficult behaviors, low emotional wellbeing, poor family interaction, as well as kinship as parents, and the severity of both the medical needs and intellectual disability. (4) Conclusions. The stress experienced by those families is mostly predicted by the meaning they give to themselves and their circumstances. Implications of these findings for service delivery are discussed.

The Impact of Child Autistic Symptoms on Parental Marital Relationship: Parenting and Coparenting Processes as Mediating Mechanisms

Research shows that parenting a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with increased marital conflicts and reduced marital love. Less is known, however, about the potential mechanism underlying these associations. The present study tested a family process model linking child autism to parental marriage. We hypothesized that child autistic symptoms would be associated with increased marital conflicts and reduced marital love among parents of children with ASD, and that these associations would be mediated by parenting stress and coparenting conflicts. A total of 382 parents of children with ASD from Hong Kong, China completed questionnaire measures of child autistic symptoms, parenting stress, coparenting conflicts, marital conflicts, and marital love. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and Bootstrap analyses were conducted to analyze the relations among the variables. SEM showed that child autistic symptoms were related to higher levels of parenting stress and coparenting conflicts, which were, in turn, related to increased marital conflicts and reduced marital love among parents of children with ASD. Bootstrap analyses further demonstrated that child autistic symptoms had significant indirect effects on marital conflicts and marital love via parenting stress and coparenting conflicts. Theoretically, this study revealed the potential pathways through which child autism symptomatology may adversely impact the family processes and compromise the marital relationships of parents of children with ASD. Practically, this study pointed to the utility of helping parents of children with ASD to manage child autistic symptoms, alleviate parenting stress, and reduce coparenting conflicts in improving their marital qualities. LAY SUMMARY: This study showed that child autistic symptoms were related to higher levels of parenting stress and coparenting conflicts, which were, in turn, related to increased marital conflicts and reduced marital love among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These findings pointed to the importance of helping parents of children with ASD to manage child autistic symptoms, alleviate parenting stress, and reduce coparenting conflicts in improving their marital qualities. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Autism Res 2020, 13: 1516-1526. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The relationship between stress and stigma, somatization and parental self-efficacy among fathers of adolescents with developmental disabilities in the Bedouin community in Israel

BACKGROUND

Although children across the world experience Developmental Disabilities, most research on DD has been conducted using Western cultural perspectives and has primarily focused on mothers, leaving significant gaps in the literature. This study intends to fill some of these gaps by exploring and gaining an understanding of the experiences of fathers raising children with DD. Thus, the aim of this study was: to examine whether stigma, somatization, and parental self-efficacy were associated with stress among Bedouin fathers of adolescents with DD. Besides, the relationship between somatization and stress was examined in this study, as it is mediated by the sense of stigma, as well as the intensity of the mediation of the knowledge of shame, between paternal self-efficacy and stress.

METHODOLOGY

Notably, ninety Bedouin fathers of adolescents with DD completed five questionnaires. These questionnaires included demographic, stigma, parental self-efficacy, and stress and somatization questionnaires.

RESULTS

Significantly, the study findings indicate significant negative relationships between general stress and parental self-efficacy, parental and economic stress and parental self-efficacy, and sense of stigma and parental self-efficacy. Also, the findings indicate significant positive relationships between stigma and anxiety, fear and somatization, and stigma and somatization.

CONCLUSIONS

Arguably, concerning the findings of the study, intervention programs that are culturally tailored and that concern cognitive-behavioral foundations are recommended to help fathers cope with their sense of stigma. Further, the intervention programs help to deal with stress and somatization and to increase their understanding of parental self-efficacy in raising their child. Therefore, these cultural intervention programs should take into account the individual and his extended family, and place of the family in his life, considering the cultural values and the honor of the family. Further, the programs should take into account the centrality of religion and an awareness of the impact of the social hierarchy and the status of the fathers in the community and on the child with disabilities. In essence, these areas are focal points of power that can assist in providing solutions for the intervention program. Also, it is essential to refer to the living and economic conditions of this community.

The Potential Psychological Mechanism of Subjective Well-Being in Migrant Workers: A Structural Equation Models Analysis

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the potential psychological mechanism of well-being in migrants in Shanghai, China. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018. First, a literature review was conducted to understand the salutogenesis of migrants in China. Then, 2573 random participants were recruited from six workplaces and public places in six districts of Shanghai. The Chinese versions of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI), and the Sense of Coherence (SOC) Scale were used to evaluate the depression, subjective well-being (SWB), and SOC of migrants. The t-test, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression and structural equation models (SEM) were used to analyze the correlations and paths among generalized resistant resources (GRRs), SOC, PHQ, and SWB. Results: The subjects were aged between 18 and 58 (mean, 28.17; SD, 6.99). SOC showed a positive correlation with SWB (r = 0.46, p < 0.001) and a negative correlation to PHQ (r = -0.53, p < 0.001). After controlling for the demographic characteristics, we found that PHQ, SOC (comprehensibility, manageability, meaningfulness), and GRRs (income ratio, marital status) contributed 33.3% of the variance in SWB, and their linear regression coefficients were: -0.32 (p < 0.001), 0.09 (p < 0.001), 0.09 (p < 0.001), 0.15 (p < 0.001), 0.06 (p < 0.05), and 0.16 (p < 0.05), respectively. These findings not only confirmed the direct association among SOC, PHQ and SWB, but also verified two underlying mechanisms regarding the mediating effect of SOC by using SEM: (1) GRRs (income ratio, marital status) are positively associated with a higher SOC, which further contributes to favorable SWB; and (2) PHQ is negatively associated with poor SWB indirectly via SOC. Conclusion: Migrant workers with low SOC and high PHQ are vulnerable to poor well-being levels. Meanwhile, GRRs (income ratio, marital status) may strengthen the SOC level, and can be regarded as the basis of intervention. Further investigation may be needed to focus on external psychological support factors.

Coping strategies of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review

To deal with stress, parents of children with ASD use coping strategies that help to tackle the challenging situations of raising their child. This systematic review examines parental coping strategy's questionnaires, factors which influence these coping strategies, interactions between these strategies and perceived stress and their impact on parental quality of life. According to PRISMA guidelines, an electronic search was conducted on Medline, PsycInfo and Eric: 156 articles were identified and 11 studies were selected. Many types of self-reported questionnaires were used to assess parental coping strategies. Studies highlighted that parents of a child with ASD used more avoidance strategies and less social support-seeking strategies than those of typical children. Furthermore, problem-focused coping protects parental stress and quality of life, that on the contrary, emotion-focused coping is a risk factor for alteration. Our systematic review illustrates the need to adapt psychoeducational interventions for parents of children with ASD.

Quality of life of French Canadian parents raising a child with autism spectrum disorder and effects of psychosocial factors

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the quality of life of parents of a child with autism spectrum disorder in Quebec.

METHODS

Seventy-seven participants completed a questionnaire with socio-biographic information and five self-assessed scales, to measure perceived stress, social support and control, coping strategies, and quality of life.

RESULTS

Perception of their child's autonomy level, of the severity of the disorder, of the family's income, as well as changes in their professional or familial organization influenced parents' quality of life. Perceiving their situation as a threat predicted poor quality of life, whereas satisfaction of social support predicted good quality of life. In addition, parents who used problem solving and support-seeking coping strategies had a better relationship with their child, whereas those who used more emotion-centered coping strategies struggled. Lastly, parents who felt they had the power to contribute to their child's development were more satisfied and less disturbed.

CONCLUSIONS

Beyond the parents' actual situation, our results underscore the importance of paying attention to their own perception of the situation in order to provide them with appropriate support.

Relations of mother's sense of coherence and childrearing style with child's social skills in preschoolers

BACKGROUND

We examined the relationships between mothers' sense of coherence (SOC) and their child's social skills development among preschool children, and how this relationship is mediated by mother's childrearing style.

METHODS

Mothers of 1341 Japanese children, aged 4-5 years, completed a self-report questionnaire on their SOC and childrearing style. The children's teachers evaluated their social skills using the social skills scale (SSS), which comprises three factors: cooperation, self-control, and assertion.

RESULTS

Path analyses revealed that the mother's childrearing mediated the positive relationship between mother's SOC and the cooperation, self-control, and assertiveness aspects of children's social skills. Additionally, there was a significant direct path from mother's SOC to the self-control component of social skills.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that mother's SOC may directly as well as indirectly influence children's social skills development through the mediating effect of childrearing. The results offer preliminary evidence that focusing on support to improve mothers' SOC may be an efficient and effective strategy for improving children's social skills development.

Mental health and positive change among Japanese mothers of children with intellectual disabilities: Roles of sense of coherence and social capital

We investigated predictors of mental health and positive change among mothers of children with intellectual disabilities in Japan based on the concept of the Double ABCX model. We used variables of having a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and dissatisfaction with systems as stressors, availability of social support and social capital (SC) as existing resources, sense of coherence (SOC) as appraisal of the stressor, and mental health and positive change as adaptation. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 10 intellectual disability-oriented special needs schools in Tokyo, and obtained 613 responses from mothers of children under age 20 attending these schools. The results showed that our Double ABCX model explained 46.0% of the variance in mothers' mental health and 38.9% of the variance in positive change. The most powerful predictor of this model was SOC, and SC may be directly and indirectly related to maternal mental health and positive change through mothers' SOC. Increasing opportunity for interaction between neighbors and family of children with disabilities may be one effective way to enhance SOC through SC. Since maternal SOC, SC, mental health, and positive change were significantly correlated with each other, synergy among these elements could be expected.

Investigating Parenting Stress across Pediatric Health Conditions - A Systematic Review

The stress parenting responsibilities place on parents increases in situations involving pediatric illness, and therefore can potentially interfere with the normal family life. The present review examines sources of parenting stress across a wide spectrum of illnesses, using three illness groups as exemplars: Congenital heart disease, pediatric cancer, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. A systematic review of the literature using PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and PsycINFO databases yielded 66 observational studies investigating sources of parenting stress in parents of young children with congenital heart defects, cancer, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Quality assessment, using the STROBE and COREQ quality indexes, was further conducted for the included studies. Stressors were categorized, and then analyzed in light of the diagnostic characteristics of the populations in focus. Findings indicate that parents across all illness groups experience increased levels of parenting stress. Several categories were identified in accordance to the parenting stress model as follows: illness-related factors, parental factors, child characteristics, familial factors, and social factors. Further analysis has revealed distinct parental concerns within the groups deriving from the diagnostics, care demands, or social responses specific to each group. Theoretical and practical implications for Family-Systems Nursing Practice were further discussed. Future research and assessment of parenting stress should account for the illness course and address family needs within the specific context of the illness.

Still stressed but feeling better: Well-being in autism spectrum disorder families as children become adults

The transition to adulthood and adulthood itself have been identified as times of stress for parents of individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Longitudinal studies, however, show improvements in the well-being of mothers of adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder. This article presents a cross-sectional study of 102 Spanish parents (51 mothers and 51 fathers) of 102 individuals with autism spectrum disorder. The aim was to examine parental well-being (evaluated based on stress, anxiety, depression and psychological well-being) in three groups of parents of adults, adolescents and young children with autism spectrum disorder. In addition, the relationships between parental well-being and the characteristics of their children, social support, parental age and sense of coherence were analysed. The results showed that although parental stress and psychological well-being levels were similar across the groups, depression and anxiety were lower in parents of adolescents or adults compared with parents of young children. Different factors predicted different measures of parental well-being, but sense of coherence emerged as the main predictive factor for all parental well-being measures. These findings are discussed in relation to parental adaptation over the lifespan and the implications for interventions in autism spectrum disorder families.

Prediction of stress in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders

Raising a child with autism spectrum disorders presents families with exceptional caregiving challenges. Consequently, parents, particularly mothers, evidence unusually high stress levels. Previous research has identified relevant variables that help explain maternal stress: the child's behavior problems, social support and the sense of coherence (SOC) as a perception of problem. However, there are few longitudinal studies demonstrating how these variables correlate over time. We present a longitudinal study of 21 Spanish mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) at two measurement time points over an interval of 4.5 years. Our aims are to examine the predictive relationships of these variables (behavior problems, social support and SOC) to stress and to analyse their changes over time. Data were collected through questionnaires. The results of the regression analysis (multiple adjusted R 2= .45, ƒ2 = .82) highlight the predictive values of SOC (adjusted R 2 = .31) and the initial stress levels (Δ adjusted R 2 = .14) for stress levels 4.5-years later. Our study used t-tests to compare measurements at the two time points; results demonstrate the permanence of stress levels and behavior problems and the effects of reduced social support and increased SOC levels (t(20) = 2.48, p = .02, Cohen's d = .63; t(20) = -4.22, p < .001, Cohen' d = .58). Implications for interventions are discussed.

Predictors of sense of coherence in typically developing adolescent siblings of individuals with autism spectrum disorder

BACKGROUND

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be a stressor for family members yet there is little published research on the impact of having a child with ASD on their typically developing (TD) adolescent siblings. According to Antonovsky's salutogenic model, a strong sense of coherence leads to the view that the stressor is a manageable challenge rather than a burden and promotes healthier adaptation. This study examines the relationship between stress, TD sibling resources and the sense of coherence in TD siblings.

METHOD

This quantitative mail-based study uses a survey methodology, analysing the responses of TD adolescent siblings (n = 96) of individuals with autism, Asperger's syndrome, or pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified to several rating scales. Adolescent siblings, ages 11 to 18 years, completed the Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experience (ACOPE), Network of Relationship Inventory - Social Provision Version (NRI-SPV), Youth Self Report (YSR), and Sense of Coherence (SOC) instruments; parents completed the Child Autism Rating Scale - 2nd Edition (CARS-2).

RESULTS

The salutogenesis model was used to guide and inform this research. Findings suggested the following: (a) the stress of ASD severity and resource of adjustment are related in TD adolescent siblings; (b) TD sibling adjustment has a strong relationship with sense of coherence levels; and (c) a greater number of positive coping strategies buffer TD sibling coherence levels when ASD severity scores are high.

CONCLUSIONS

ASD severity and TD adolescent sibling resources influence sense of coherence in adolescent TD siblings of individuals with ASD.

Family quality of life and psychological well-being in parents of children with autism spectrum disorders: a double ABCX model

BACKGROUND

This study examined family quality of life (FQOL) and psychological well-being from a multidimensional perspective. The proposed model was based on the double ABCX model, with severity of the disorder, behaviour problems, social support, sense of coherence (SOC) and coping strategies as components.

METHOD

One hundred and eighteen parents (59 mothers and 59 fathers) with a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) participated in the study. Separate path analyses were performed to evaluate models of FQOL and psychological well-being for mothers and fathers.

RESULTS

In all models, behaviour problems had a negative indirect effect on adaptation (FQOL and psychological well-being) through SOC. For both mothers and fathers, the severity of the disorder and social support played significant roles in FQOL models. Coping strategies were related with adaptation, active avoidance coping with FQOL for fathers and positive and problem-focused coping with psychological well-being for mothers.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study highlight the value of the multidimensional approach. The specific patterns of results for mothers and fathers contribute to comprehension of the psychological adaptation of parents. Findings could be taken into account in interventions with families.

The impact of parent-delivered intervention on parents of very young children with autism

This study investigated the impact of a parent-coaching intervention based on the Early Start Denver Model (P-ESDM) on parenting-related stress and sense of competence. This was part of a multisite, randomized trial comparing P-ESDM (n = 49) with community intervention (n = 49) for children aged 12 and 24 months. The P-ESDM group reported no increase in parenting stress, whereas the Community group experienced an increase over the same 3-month period. Parental sense of competence did not differ. Number of negative life events was a significant predictor of parenting stress and sense of competence across both groups. This suggests that a parent-coaching intervention may help maintain parental adjustment directly after a child is diagnosed with ASD.

The lived experience of mothers of multiple children with intellectual disabilities

In this study, we explored the lived experience of Japanese mothers who have delivered multiple children with intellectual disabilities (ID), using interpretative phenomenological analysis. We identified three superordinate themes and seven subordinate themes from the narrative data collected from 10 participants. The superordinate themes were: abandoned hope for having an ordinary family, accumulating physical and mental fatigue, and searching for positive experiences in parenting multiple children with disabilities. How they perceived the birth of children with disabilities for the second time differed depending on the disability types; specifically, whether they detected the disabilities early or not. Encountering the disability in another child overwhelmed mothers, especially when the disabilities were diagnosed after several years with or without suspicion; they struggled to accept the fact. Despite mothers facing extreme difficulties in parenting multiple children with disabilities, they tried to alter the negative perceptions and find an optimistic way of living.

Parenting children with conduct disorder in Israel: caregiver burden and the sense of coherence

The study examines the caregiver burden and sense of coherence among parents of 300 children with conduct disorder, as compared to parents of 100 children without the disorder in Israel. Parents completed the Caregiver Burden Index and the Sense of Coherence Scale. The research findings showed significant differences between the two groups, with the parents of children with conduct disorder reporting a higher caregiver burden and lower sense of coherence than the parents of children with no disorder. The study highlights the need to provide professional support for parents of children with conduct disorder and to develop appropriate intervention programs for enhancing the parents' coping abilities.

Families of children with autism: behaviors of children, community support and coping

BACKGROUND

The diagnosis of autism for children (from birth to age 21) continues to increase, with the current rate being 1 in 110 children in the US. Besides financial strain, families often experience reduced quality of life due to disruptive behaviors related to autism. Research indicates that social support for families of children with autism improves family coping and adaptation.

METHOD

A descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study was conducted with 38 parents of children with autism. Using the McCubbin and Patterson (1983) model of family behavior, associations among behaviors of children with autism, community support for family, and family coping were analyzed.

RESULTS

Findings of this study indicate an association between increased community supports and increased family coping strategies (r=.451; p=.005). Results also suggest the levels of disruptive behaviors associated with autism vary, community support can be but is not always helpful, and that the family's ability to cope with the challenges of autism is important to the family.

Leisure and Social Participation and Health-Related Quality of Life in Caregivers of Children with Autism

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to compare health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) with a norm-based sample. An additional aim was to examine the relationship between engagement in leisure and social occupations and HRQoL in mothers of children with ASD. Thirty-three mothers of children with ASD, between 27 and 49 years of age, participated. Study participants between the ages of 35 and 44 years reported poorer mental HRQoL than a national sample, but comparable physical HRQoL. Findings also revealed inverse correlations between participation in hobbies and community/education activities and physical HRQoL (e.g., participation in hobbies and community education/activities increased as physical HRQoL decreased). The mental HRQoL of caregivers of children with ASD is lower than that of the general population, suggesting the need for occupational therapists to include psychosocial screening and referral for this group in their practice. In addition, results suggest that the relation between participation and health is complex, warranting further investigation.

Quality of life: a key variable to consider in the evaluation of adjustment in parents of children with autism spectrum disorders and in the development of relevant support and assistance programmes

PURPOSE

Our primary objective was to identify cognitive and behavioural profiles that affect adjustment, in order to make relevant recommendations about support and assistance for parents of autistic children.

METHOD

One hundred and sixty French parents completed a battery of questionnaires and self-report measures developed or adapted to assess (1) the child and family situations; (2) perceived stress; (3) perceived social support; (4) perceived control; (5) coping strategies; and (6) quality of life.

RESULTS

The psychometric properties of the instruments we used proved to be adequate. Our results support the pre-existing data and our findings may prove to be of interest to clinicians. Our primary finding was that emotion-focused coping strategies seem to be less effective. Parents who employed emotion-focused strategies were more stressed and more disturbed in most parts of their life. They also experienced more guilt and reported more false beliefs about PDD.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data underscore the need for psychoeducation programmes for parents, focused on handling stress and emotions, modifying false beliefs and solving the daily problems that arise from PDD. We propose a 5-axis intervention model for parents of children with PDD, based on cognitive-behavioural therapies and on a stress management programme.

Predictors of parenting stress among Vietnamese mothers of young children with and without cognitive delay

BACKGROUND

The study examined whether Vietnamese mothers of children with cognitive delay experienced more parenting stress compared to mothers of children without delay, and the factors that contribute to the parenting stress.

METHOD

The study sample included 225 mothers of children with and without cognitive delays from Hue City in Vietnam. The study protocol included mothers reporting on the scales of parenting stress and perceived social support, and on demographic questions.

RESULTS

Mothers of children with cognitive delay experienced more stress. They were poorer and less educated, and perceived less social support. More mothers of these children had health issues. Having a child with cognitive delay was the strongest predictor of stress after controlling other demographic and psychosocial variables.

CONCLUSION

Special education and early intervention services should be developed and available to educate the children with cognitive delay and support their mothers in Vietnam. Effective services also need to address their poverty and health care needs.

Maternal personal resources and children's socioemotional and behavioral adjustment

The study examined the role of three maternal personal resources [sense of coherence (SOC), attachment style, and social/emotional feelings of loneliness] in explaining children's socioemotional adjustment (self-rated loneliness and SOC, and mother-rated child behavior) and children's (self-rated) secure attachment. The sample included 58 mother-child dyads (27 boys and 31 girls) aged 8-11 years. Preliminary analyses indicated significant group differences between mothers with high or low scores on the two subscales of the attachment scale (i.e., avoidance and anxiety), on their SOC, and their social/emotional loneliness. Findings revealed that maternal SOC significantly contributed to all child socioemotional adjustment measures and attachment scores. In addition, the current findings demonstrated the role of maternal anxious attachment in explaining children's externalizing behaviors. Discussion focused on the unique value of maternal characteristics for understanding social and emotional adjustment among school-age children.