PERCEPTIONS OF SERVICES AND RESOURCES AS MEDIATORS OF DEPRESSION AMONG PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL-DISABILITIES

Path analysis was used to test the effects of resource perceptions and respire use: in a theoretical model of parental adaptation to childre n with disabilities, The amount and quality of respite indirectly affe cted parental depression via parent's perceptions of the adequacy of b aby sitting and the time the parent had for herself or himself, Both q uality and respire use were related to the helpfulness of the parent's social network. The strongest predictor of depression was the parent' s perception of time resources, which was influenced by the amount of care the child required, the adequacy of money, and baby sitting resou rces.