Family Support Services and Reported Parent Coping Among Caregivers of Children with Emotional, Behavioral, or Developmental Disorders

Abstract

Objective: Caregivers of children with special health care needs (CSHCN) experience substantial strain caring for their child's special needs because of high needs for health and other support services. Caregivers of CSHCN with emotional, behavioral, or developmental problems (EBDPs) report stress and poor mental health at higher rates than caregivers of other CSHCN. Although family support services are associated with caregiver mental health and well-being among families of CSHCN, the association of these factors with caregiver coping has been underexamined.

Method: Using the Double ABCX Model of Family Adaptation to guide variable selection, this study uses 2016 to 2019 data from the National Survey of Children's Health. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate logistic analyses examined the association between caregivers' receipt of adequate care coordination and emotional support services and their reported coping with the day-to-day strains of parenting. These relationships are compared between caregivers of CSHCN with and without EBDPs.

Results: Receipt of adequate care coordination was associated with higher rates of caregiver-reported positive coping for all caregivers of CSHCN who have no source of emotional support. Receipt of emotional support services was associated with increased reports of positive coping for caregivers for all CSHCN as well. Caregivers reporting only informal sources of emotional support, however, also reported higher rates of positive coping when compared with caregivers with no source of emotional support.

Conclusion: Mobilization of resources that can aid caregivers in coordinating care and provide emotional support may play a key role in positive caregiver coping for families of CSHCN.