(PS2-49) Behavior Problems in Youth with IDD Are Associated with Poorer Mental Health in Parents and Caregivers

Abstract Text: Individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) often experience comorbid internalizing (e.g. depression, anxiety) and externalizing (e.g. aggression, impulsivity) behaviors, and these challenges can negatively impact the mental health of their parents and caregivers. The present study analyzed data from a randomized controlled trial testing two parent-group-style interventions aimed at bolstering advocacy skills and improving the health of parents and caregivers of transition-aged youth with IDD. Baseline data were collected from a diverse sample of parents and caregivers (N=406) on parent depression (measured with the Parent Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)), parent stress (measured with the Parental Stress Scale), and child internalizing and externalizing behavior scores (assessed through the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)). We conducted an ANOVA test to compare mean depression and stress scores between parents whose children did not meet clinical thresholds for internalizing and externalizing behaviors (Group 0), parents whose children met clinical threshold for internalizing behaviors but not externalizing behaviors (Group 1), and parents whose children met clinical threshold for both externalizing and internalizing behaviors (Group 2). We found that meeting clinical thresholds for child behavior problems was significantly associated with parent depression (p < 0.001) and parent stress (p < 0.001). Parents and caregivers whose children met clinical thresholds for internalizing and externalizing behaviors (Group 2) had the highest depression scores (mean = 8.8, 95% CI [7.8 – 9.8]) and stress scores (mean = 49.2, 95% CI [47.3 – 51.1]), while parents whose children did not meet clinical thresholds for internalizing or externalizing behaviors (Group 0) had the lowest depression scores (mean = 6.0, 95% CI [5.2 – 6.8]) and stress scores (mean = 40.2, 95% CI [38.7 – 41.7]). These findings suggest that parents and caregivers whose children with IDD met clinical thresholds for externalizing or internalizing behaviors, and especially when they met the thresholds for both types of behaviors, may be at particular risk for mental health challenges and could benefit from increased services and support. Future studies should explore strategies to improve access to and use of evidence-based interventions that could aid this population, such as the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) and mindfulness meditation.