Coping and Stress Related to Support Needs: Assessing Needs in Parent and Caregivers of Children with Down syndrome
Abstract
The present study aims to better understand support needs among parents/caregivers of children with Down syndrome, and its relationship to parental stress and coping strategies. 122 parents and caregivers of children with Down syndrome of various age groups completed an online survey including demographics information, Family Needs Survey - Revised, Questionnaire on Resources and Stress – Friedrich Version, and the Family Crisis Oriented Personal Scales. Descriptive statistics characterize the sample and determine which items are important and met as needs. Relationship between the important unmet needs (IUN), coping and stress were explored using Pearson correlations across the three measures. The most important needs domains were Information and Community Services. Findings support our hypotheses that greater stress is correlated with IUN, and more effective coping strategies are correlated with less stress and less IUN. With greater understanding of these relationships, support programs and interventions could be designed to target specific needs.