(PS4-75) The Mediating Effects of Parental Emotional Regulation on Parental Psychopathology in Families with Developmentally and Intellectually Disabled Children

Background

Parents of autistic youth exhibit higher levels of stress, lower quality of life, poorer family functioning, and elevated depression (Davis & Carter, 2008; Pisula & Dorsmann, 2017; Singer et al., 2002; Tekinarslan, 2013). Moreover, parental stress (PS) has been linked with parental anxiety and depression (PD; Hamlyn-Wright et al., 2007), and parental emotion regulation (ER) is associated with both PS and PD (Megreya et al., 2020). Prior research suggests that parents of autistic children engage in more maladaptive ER strategies (e.g., self-blaming, rumination, catastrophizing), compared to parents of non-autistic children (Benson, 2010; Hirschler-Guttenberg et al., 2015). This study examined the hypothesized mediating relationship between parental ER, PS and PD, which can help identify therapeutic targets to inform the development of innovative and accessible parental mental health interventions, in line with this year’s conference theme.

Methods

Forty parents (87.5% female; 60% non-white; 80% ages 35- 54) of developmentally and intellectually disabled children (D/ID) (72.5% autism spectrum disorder; 10% Down Syndrome; M_age = 11.60, SD_age= 5.62; 77.7% male) completed an online Qualtrics survey assessing parental stress (PSI-4 SF; Abidin, 1995), depressive symptoms (BDI-II; Beck, 1996), and emotional regulation difficulties (DERS; Gratz & Roemer, 2004), including select DERS subscales: 1) use of ER strategies, and 2) level of acceptance of reactions to distress. Bivariate correlations examined the relationships between PS, PD, and ER, and path analysis assessed whether overall ER (model 1) and specific ER aspects (model 2) mediated the relationship between PS and PD.  

Results

PS was strongly related to PD (r=.72, p< 0.05), and parental ER also related to PS and PD (all r>0.49, p< 0.01). Path analyses were completed using two conceptual models. Parental ER partially mediated the relationship between PS and PD (p = 0.006), while PS had a significant direct effect on parental ER (b = 0.52, p < .001) and PD (b  = 0.47; p < .001). Similarly, parental ER had a significant direct effect on PD (b  = 0.47; p < .001).  Further, approximately 68% of the variance in PD was explained by PS and parental ER. In the second model that specifically examined two aspects of ER, parental use of ER strategies (but not parental acceptance) emerged as a mediator in the relationship between PS and PD (p = 0.003). Approximately 68% of the variance in PD was explained cumulatively by PS and specific ER strategies.

Discussion

These results highlight the role of ER in depression of highly stressed parents of D/ID youth and underscore the need for psychological interventions incorporating effective ER strategies (e.g., DBT/ACT-informed) and mindfulness/relaxation training. Critically, there is a need for facilitating access to free/subsidized therapeutic supports (e.g., parent support groups) for caregivers in accessible and multilingual formats, such as remote/telehealth delivery to address structural and familial barriers experienced by families.