Response to the presence of a child with disabilities: parental stress and family functioning over time.

Parental stress and family functioning over time in families of children with disabilities was investigated. Comparisons were made between two time periods and with families of children who did not have disabilities; predictors of parental stress were identified. Results showed a high level of stability in parental stress and a modest degree of consistency over time in family functioning in families of children with disabilities. In these aspects, families of children with disabilities were not different from comparison families. There was also stability in the best predictors of parental stress (presence or absence of disabilities and the quality of family relationship). Of significant concern, families of children with disabilities were distinguished by the exceedingly greater amount of stress at both periods of study. Implications for family services and research were drawn.