Resilient Moderating Effect between Stress and Life Satisfaction of Mothers and Fathers with Children with Developmental Disorders Who Present Temporary or Permanent Needs

Abstract

(1) Background: The stress experienced by parents with children with developmental disorders who present temporary or permanent needs, makes them experience a series of daily situations that may be linked to coping strategies. Resilient attributes are considered one of the factors that have a decisive influence on the behavior of parents related to raising their children and that affect greater well-being and life satisfaction. The objective of this research is to study the mediating effect of resilient attributes between parental stress and life satisfaction; (2) Methods: In this study, mothers and fathers of boys and girls from 0 to 6 years old with developmental disorders from different Early Childhood Care Centers (CAIT) in the Province of Jaén (Andalusia) [Spain]. Of them, 96 are mothers (78.0%) and 27 are fathers (22.0%), with a mean age of 37.85 years (±5.043). The Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF), Resilience Scale (RS-14), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) were used. The structural equations model (PLS-SEM) was applied to estimate the proposed theoretical model, from an explanatory-predictive perspective; (3) Results: The results showed the coefficients of determination Parental distress [(Q2 = 0.144); (R2 = 0.329)]; Personal competence [(Q2 = 0.106); (R2 = 0.246)]; Acceptance of self and life [(Q2 = 0.094); (R2 = 0.172)] and Life satisfaction [(Q2 = 0.182); (R2 = 0.563)], in the estimation of the reflective model, indicating a moderate fit; (4) Conclusions: The present investigation is not conclusive; however, the implications of these findings are discussed and suggestions for future research are considered.

Keywords

• parental stress
• resilient attribute
• life satisfaction
• developmental disorder