Marquis SM, McGrail K, Hayes M. Mental health of parents of children with a developmental disability in British Columbia, Canada.
J Epidemiol Community Health 2019;
74:173-178. [PMID:
31744849 PMCID:
PMC6993017 DOI:
10.1136/jech-2018-211698]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Background
There is evidence in the literature that parents of children who have a developmental disability experience an increased risk of mental health problems.
Methods
This study used population-level administrative data from the Ministry of Health, British Columbia, Canada, to assess the mental health of parents of children who have a developmental disability compared with the mental health of parents of children who do not have a developmental disability. Population-level and individual explanatory variables available in the data were included in the models.
Results
At a population level, the study found strong evidence that parents of children who have a developmental disability experience higher odds of depression or other mental health diagnoses compared with parents of children who do not have a developmental disability. Age of the parent at birth of the child, income and location of healthcare services were all associated with outcomes.
Conclusion
Parents of children who have a developmental disability may be in need of programmes and services that support their mental health.
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