Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León Facultad de Psicología

1. Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León Facultad de Psicología Perceived stress, coping strategies and optimism in hearing mothers of deaf children Presents: M.C. Lorena Ibarra González lorenaibarra13@gmail.com Monterrey, N.L., May 2012

2. Introduction

3. Impact on parents Crisis Conflicts or crises do not emerge as direct consequence of disability Strategies and resources to cope with the new situation. (Ortega, Torres, Garrido & Reyes, 2006)

4. Variables studied in relation to parents of children with disability Stress Coping

5. Stress Evaluated as something that exceeds their resources Relation (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984)

6. Stress Reaction to situations that imply a change in life. (Sandín, 2003)

7. Cognitive and behavioral strategies a person uses to control or manage stressful situations. Coping Problem-focused Emotion-focused Reduce the emotional stress associated to a situation. Doing something to alter the source of stress. (Sandín, 1999; Folkman & Lazarus, 1980)

8. Factors that influence the stress and coping process in parents of children with disabilities. Sociodemographic characteristics Optimism

9. Tendency a person has to expect positive and favorable results in their lives. Optimism (Scheier & Carver, 1985)

10. Justification

11. Parents of deaf children report a higher level of stress than parents of regular children. Psychological and behavioral problems in children correlate with parental stress level. Parents who experience less stress levels have deaf children with better socioemotional development. (Burger et al., 2005; Quittner, 1991; Quittner, Glueckauf & Jackson; Quittner, Steck & Rouiller, 1991; Hintermair, 2006; Pipp-Siegel et al., 2002;

12. Assistance services for disability Individually-centered The effect would multiply if there were also services for parents. Parents need to be psychologically healthy to support their child. (Jackson, Wegner & Turnbull, 2010)

13. Need for programs aimed at teaching effective coping strategies against stress for parents. Impact to the socioemotional development of the deaf child.

14. Method

15. Participants 30 mothers of deaf children Between 25 and 50 years of age Main method of communication: LSM Mean age of diagnosis: 16.67 months 90% of the participants did not received psychological attention.

16. Measure instruments Perceived Stress Scale By Cohen, Kamarck and Mermelstein (1983), adapted version by González and Landero (2007b) Coping Strategies Questionnaire By Sandín and Chorot (2003), adapted version by González and Landero (2007a) Life Orientation Test Revised By Scheier et al. (1994), adapted version by Landero and González (2009)

17. Results and Discussion

18. Level of stress of the sample M = 26.73, SD = 8.84 Cut-off point for clinical stress: 30 43.30% (Martínez & Moral, 2009)

19. Level of stress in other samples Mothers of deaf children Mothers of child with cancer Single mothers University students Housewives General population 26.73 26.27 23.50 22.29 21.78 20.02 Cohen & Williamson, 1988; Moral, González & Landero, 2011; González & Landero, 2008; Landero & González, 2011; Martínez & Moral, 2009

20. Level of optimism in the sample No cut-off points M = 14.33, SD = 2.85

21. Level of optimism in other samples Parents of healthy children Parents of children with dev. disabilities College students Mothers of deaf children Patients with fibromyalgia Parents of children with cancer 16.40 15.94 14.42 14.33 14.28 13.00 (Fotiadou et al., 2008; Peer, 2011; Scheier, Carver & Bridges, 1994; Landero & González, 2009)

22. Correlation of stress and coping Strategies * p < .05, ** p < .01

23. Correlation of stress and coping Strategies Negative auto-focused Feeling helpless or unable to solve the problem, believing things will always go wrong, blame oneself. Positive reappraisal Focus on positive aspects of the problem, thinking bad things happen for a reason.

24. Correlation of stress and coping Strategies Negative auto-focused Level of stress Positive reappraisal

25. Correlation of optimism and coping strategies * p < .05, ** p < .01

26. Correlation of stress and coping Strategies Avoidance Practicing hobbies or activities, trying to forget the problem or focusing on other things. Social support seeking Ask relatives or friends for advice, for expression of feelings and for help with the problem.

27. Correlation of stress and coping Strategies Negative auto-focused Level of optimism Avoidance Social support seeking

28. Differences of coping strategies in relation to sociodemographic variables Mothers of boys Negative auto-focused most on Mothers 38 years of age or more

29. Differences of coping strategies in relation to age • of deafness diagnosis Problem-solving Age of diagnosis Positive reappraisal use of Social support seeking Before 12 months Religion

30. Differences of stress in relation to marital status and sign language of partner When cohabitating with partner Level of stress When partner knew sign language

31. Conclussions

32. The level of stress in our sample can be considered high. Almost half of the sample scored as being clinically stressed. Predominant coping strategies used by participants corresponded to positive reappraisal and problem-solving. The level of optimism in our sample can be considered medium. Lower than parents of regular children, but higher than parents of children with cancer.

33. Stressed mothers used more NAF and less PRA. Optimistic mothers used less NAF, more AVD and more SSS. Negative auto-focused was most used by mothers of boys and mothers who were 38 years of age or older.

34. Mothers of children diagnosed at 12 months or earlier, used a more problem-focused style of coping (PSF, PRA, SSS, and RLG). The level of stress in mothers was lower when they cohabitated with their partner and their partner knew sign language.

35. Recommendations

36. To include fathers of deaf children in the sample. • To measure stress levels within the first weeks of the diagnosis and to provide psychological attention. • To focus psychological attention on increasing PRA and decreasing NAF. • To analyze the importance an early diagnosis has on the coping strategies used by parents. • To measure social support in parents.

37. Thank you for your attention

39. Differences of coping strategies and sociodemographic variables Sex of deaf child No previous researches found related to sex of the child and coping strategies used by mothers. Mothers of deaf boys reported more behavioral problems. (Hintermair, 2006)

40. Objective 8. Differences of stress, optimism and coping(sociodemographic variables of mothers) Age of mothers Previous studies have found no relation between age of parents and the use of certain coping strategies. More information is needed. (Mapp & Hudson, 1997)

41. Differences of coping strategies and age of deafness diagnosis Early dx is associated to the use of problem-focused coping.

42. Differences of stress in relation to marital status and sign language of partner Marital status Consistent with previous research. Separated women reported more stress than married or cohabitating women. Also involved is social support, which can buffer stress. (Cohen & Williamson, 1988; Cohen, 1988) * Post-hoc analyses made with Tukey HSD test

43. Differences of stress, optimism and coping(sociodemographic variables of mothers) Knowledge of sign language in partner We found no previous studies focusing on SL on partner and stress or coping. Importance of partner being able to communicate with the deaf child, not leaving the parenting only to mothers. * Post-hoc analyses made with Tukey HSD test

44. Thankyouforyourattention