Parental Stress Index (PSI) Identifies High-Stress Parents and Intervention Programs Yield Promising Results.
In the journey of early intervention for children with non-progressive neurodisability, parents play a crucial role as the vital clock. Recognizing the significance of addressing parents' anxiety, stress, underlying depression, and concerns about their child's present and future, a recent study focused on developing methods to identify and support high-stress parents.
The ultimate goal was to improve the child's environment and overall outcome. The study aimed to construct a Parental Stress Index (PSI) consisting of five items to identify parents experiencing high levels of stress. To test its efficacy, 83 parents seeking intervention for their children were administered the parental stress index. Among them, 50 parents with scores higher than 30% were selected for an intervention program, considering their heightened stress levels and their children's poor performance, as observed through assessments.
In contrast, 34 parents who scored below 30% on the Parental Stress Index served as the control group. The intervention program, known as MASI (Mind and Soul Integration), was specifically designed for parents facing high stress. Out of the 50 selected parents, 44 actively participated in the MASI program, which included 12 sessions over a period of 6-8 weeks. Pre-intervention analysis revealed a mean score of 32.53 for these parents, with a significant t-value of 13.20.
Following the completion of the intervention program, the 44 parents were reassessed after eight weeks to measure changes in their stress levels. The results showed a significant improvement, with a mean difference of 19.71 and a notable t-value of 7.56, indicating a highly significant outcome at the .00 level. Encouragingly, the children's results also exhibited improvement as their parents' stress levels were reduced.
These findings emphasize the importance of implementing separate programs for parents of children with diagnosed neurodisability. The MASI program demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing parental stress and subsequently improving the child's outcomes.
The study underscores the significance of addressing parental well-being in early intervention, recognizing that a supportive and stress-free environment can have a positive impact on the child's development. Moving forward, further research and expanded implementation of similar intervention programs hold the potential to significantly enhance the well-being and developmental progress of children with neuro disabilities.
By recognizing the critical role parents play and providing them with the necessary support, we can foster an environment where every child can thrive, reaching their full potential despite the challenges they face.
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