Life satisfaction and stress among mothers and fathers of children with cerebral palsy: The impact of social support, financial stress, positive affect, relationship satisfaction, and religious community support

Parents are often significantly impacted by the multiple challenges associated with raising a child with a disability. Current literature supports that having a child with a disability can increase a parents' stress, restrict social support networks, create financial strains, and lower life satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to focus on parents of children with cerebral palsy and how positive affect, relationship satisfaction, partner differences, social support, financial stress, and religious community support may influence their life satisfaction and stress. The study analyzed responses from 223 mothers and 53 fathers who had a child diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Independent samples t tests revealed that stress experienced by mothers and fathers was found to be statistically significant and that mothers experienced higher levels of stress than fathers. Multiple hierarchical regressions indicated that fathers and mothers who reported higher relationship satisfaction also reported higher life satisfaction. Additionally, mothers that reported high positive affect had high life satisfaction and mothers that reported to have high financial stress had lower levels of life satisfaction. Pertaining to stress, fathers and mothers that reported to have high positive affect reported lower stress levels. The implications for how these results may inform and influence researchers, mental health professionals, and religious communities are provided.