The relationship between attachment, behavior problems, and parental stress in language delayed and non-language delayed children

• Main Author: Snyder, Jodi Deeann
• Format: Others
• Published: Scholarly Commons 1992
• Subjects: Psychotherapy; Language; Educational psychology; Special education; Social psychology; Education; Psychology; literature and linguistics
• Online Access: https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/2840; https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3839&context=uop_etds

The present study was designed to assess the relationship between language disorders, maternal attachment, behavior problems, and parental stress. The mothers of the following four groups of children were studied: (a) language delayed children without behavior problems, (b) language delayed children with behavior problems, (c) non-language delayed children without behavior problems, and (d) non-language delayed children with behavior problems. Mothers completed three measures: (a) The Maternal Perceptions of Child Attachment, (b) The Maternal Gratification Scale, and (c) The Parenting Stress Index. Contrary to expectations, mothers of language delayed children reported more attachment to their children than did mothers of non-language delayed children. The presence of behavior problems did not seem to affect the mothers' perceived attachment but was associated with greater maternal stress. The results suggested that the child's needs associated with having a disability may actually enhance attachment while behavior problems not the disability itself contributed to maternal stress.