Psychosocial Impact and Parental Stress in Families of Children With Severe Neurological Disorders and Intellectual Disabilities: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objetivo: Examinar el impacto psicosocial y el estrés parental en familias con hijos con trastornos neurológicos graves y discapacidad intelectual, analizando la relación entre estilos de respuesta parental y funcionamiento familiar. Diseño: Estudio descriptivo, transversal y prospectivo. Métodos: Participaron 100 progenitores que completaron el Parenting Stress Index, el Family Management Style Framework y el Parental Response Style Questionnaire. Se recogieron también características clínicas como la presencia de problemas psicológicos o psiquiátricos y trastornos de conducta. Resultados: El malestar y el estrés parental se asociaron significativamente con la mayoría de los estilos de respuesta parental, excepto la sobreprotección. La presencia y complejidad clínica de problemas psicológicos o psiquiátricos y trastornos de conducta se relacionaron con mayores niveles de estrés y mayor impacto familiar. Conclusión: Las familias afrontan importantes desafíos que requieren intervenciones centradas en la familia.

Objective: To examine the psychosocial impact and parental stress associated with severe neurological disorders and intellectual disabilities in children, with a focus on the relationships between parental response styles and family stress and impact. Design: A descriptive, cross-sectional, prospective study. Methods: One hundred parents completed the Parenting Stress Index, the Family Management Style Framework, and the Parental Response Style Questionnaire. Clinical characteristics, including psychological or psychiatric problems and conduct disorders, were also collected. Results: Discomfort and stress were positively associated with most parental response styles except overprotection. The presence and clinical complexity of psychological or psychiatric problems and conduct disorders were significantly linked to higher parental stress and greater family impact. Conclusions: Families face substantial challenges affecting daily functioning. Findings should be interpreted as associative due to the cross-sectional design.