Journal on Developmental Disabilities
Le journal sur les handicaps du développement

Abstract

This paper presents a theoretical model for understanding stress and related issues in families of children with developmental disabilities (DD). It first describes the theoretical underpinnings in the literature on stress and coping in individuals and on family stress. The proposed model includes Stressors (Child Characteristics and Other Life Stressors), Resources (Individual's Personal Resources and Family System Resources), Supports (Informal Social Supports and Formal Supports and Services) and both Positive and Negative Parental Outcomes. Each domain of the model is described, together with suggestions for future research and clinical implications pertinent to each domain. Some evaluation of the model is provided, it is contrasted to other models, and several empirical illustrations are provided.

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