THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTING STRESS AND SOCIAL SUPPORT IN MOTHERS OF CHILDREN WITH LEARNING-DISABILITIES - A CHINESE EXPERIENCE

This study examined the relationship between parenting stress and soci al support in a random sample of 100 mothers with children at a school for children with learning disabilities, and a control group of 75 mo thers with similarly aged non-handicapped children. Mothers of childre n at Zhi Ling school were found to have significantly more stress and significantly less support than those in the control group. Parenting stress in the control group was also found to be relatively high when compared with what are considered to be normal levels in the West. No significant correlation was found between total parenting stress and s ocial support. It is suggested that further studies need to differenti ate between satisfaction with support that is actually received and th e perceived quality of available support.