Examining Stress in Parents of Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Many parents of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience high levels of stress. Such stress can negatively impact parents (e.g., create exhaustion, worsen physical and mental health) and their children with IDD (e.g., reduce their quality of care). By identifying specific stressors and their correlates, targeted interventions can be designed to mitigate stress and improve outcomes for families of adults with IDD. In this study, 518 parents of adult children with IDD responded to a national survey about their stress. Top stressors included future planning and a lack of daily activities for their adult children with IDD. Having an adult child with autism and being from collectivistic cultures were consistent correlates of greater stress. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed.