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Introduction: Children with developmental delays (DD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are at a high risk for emotional and behavioral concerns. Research examining co-occurring anxiety in those with ASD during early childhood is scarce. The current study examined rates, symptom manifestation, and parenting risk correlates of anxiety among young children with ASD and those with a non-spectrum DD. Method: The study included a sample of preschool-aged children (M = 4.18 years) with ASD (n = 56) and non-spectrum DD (n = 43). Anxiety symptoms were measured using the CBCL, and parenting was measured using parent-report and observational methods. Results: Results indicated that those with ASD were at a greater risk for anxiety symptoms than those with a non-spectrum DD; however, ASD diagnosis did not differentiate the presentation of anxiety. Inconsistent parenting emerged as predictor of anxiety symptoms for children with ASD. Conclusions: Given the high risk for anxiety in individuals with ASD, it is important to identify and treat anxiety in young children with ASD. The current study highlighted inconsistent parenting as a potential target to address in future parenting interventions for anxiety in young children with ASD.

Introduction: Children with developmental delays (DD), particularly autism spectrum disorders (ASD), are at high risk for increased levels of behavior problems and developing internalizing problems. While previous literature has highlighted the impact of parental stress on the development of behavioral problems broadly in children with DD, research on the relation between parenting stress and internalizing problems in children with ASD is scarce. Growing evidence has supported Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) as an effective intervention for reducing stress among parents of children with DD. These reductions in parent stress are also associated with subsequent reductions in their children's behavior problem; however, to our knowledge, the effects of MBSR and reductions in parent stress on internalizing problems in children with DD have not been examined. Method: The current study utilized data from Mindful Awareness for Parenting Stress (MAPS) which consisted of families of 80 preschool children with developmental delays (DD) whose parents reported high levels of stress. Specifically, we investigated whether decreases in parenting stress as a result of engagement in a MBSR intervention would lead to reductions in internalizing behavior problems among children with DD, and whether this relation was moderated by the child's ASD status. Additionally, we examined whether individual increases in the mindful facets of acting with awareness and nonjudgment, from pre- to post- treatment, would lead to reductions in internalizing problems among children with DD, and whether this relation was moderated by the child's ASD status. Results: Children of parents in the MBSR treatment group had greater reductions in internalizing problems compared to children whose parents were in the waitlist-control group, "b"= -5.71, "p" <0.05. We also found that children of parents who reported greater increases in acting with awareness post-treatment had a greater reduction in internalizing problems, "b"= -2.57, "p"<0.05. Additionally, children whose parents had greater increases in nonjudgment post-treatment had a greater reduction in internalizing problems, "b"= -1.85, "p"<0.05. However, ASD status was not a significant moderator in either analysis, "ps" >0.05 Conclusions: These findings have important implications regarding the relation between parenting stress and internalizing problems in children with DD. This treatment offers a novel approach to treating comorbid internalizing problems in children with DD. Parents' use of MBSR provides a method of early intervention, which may ameliorate the development of internalizing problems over time. The current study helps to inform future parenting interventions by highlighting the importance of addressing specific facets of mindfulness in interventions which may lead to greater reductions in internalizing problems in vulnerable populations such as children with DD.

Objective: We explored the relationship between acculturation and parenting stress among parents of children with developmental delays (DD) and investigated family support as a potential moderator. Methods: Participants included 99 parents of young children with DD. Standardized measures were used to evaluate the variables of interest and a multiple linear regression analysis was employed to test the moderation effect. Results: Our results indicated that the relationship between acculturation and parenting stress depended on the level of family support. More specifically, low levels of acculturation were associated with increased parenting stress at high levels of family support but not low levels of family support. Conclusions: Minority parents of children with DDs may be at risk for especially high levels of parenting stress due to the additive stress of adapting to a new culture and parenting a child with special needs. Implications for intervention and future research are discussed.

Introduction: Studies have shown that parents of children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) exhibit higher levels of stress than parents of typically developing children or children with other types of developmental delays (DD). This relationship appears to be mediated by elevated levels of behavior problems observed in children with PDD. However, little is known about what specific child behavior problems are most common in this population or how these behavior problems relate to parental stress. We examined the relationship between parenting stress and child behavior problems in parents of young children with PDD. Method: The current study utilized data from the Mindful Awareness for Parenting Stress (MAPS) project and included 72 parents of children with PDD. The mean age of the parents in the current study was 34.81 years (SD = 7.67) and the mean age of the children was 3.86 years (SD = 0.98). Results: The most commonly endorsed classes of child behavior problems included attention problems, language problems, and externalizing behavior problems. Three specific behavior problems, "Doesn't answer when people talk to him/her," "Speech problem," and "Temper tantrums or hot temper," were significantly related to parental stress levels at intake. Furthermore, these three behavior problems uniquely predicted parenting stress. Conclusions: Identifying the behavior problems that are most difficult for parents to handle may allow clinicians to tailor interventions to the specific needs of families. The current study indicated that social difficulties, speech problems, and tantrums have the greatest negative impact on parental stress, highlighting these problems as ideal targets for interventions.

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have higher rates of depressive symptoms than parents of typically developing children and parents of children with other developmental disorders. Parental depressive symptoms are strongly associated with problem behaviors in children; however, the mechanisms through which parental depression influences child behavior in families of children with ASD are unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between parental depression and child behavior problems among families of children with ASD, more specifically to investigate the mediating variables that may explain the processes through which parental depression and child behavior problems are associated. The sample consisted of 33 parents of children with ASD (ages 2 to 5 years old). Findings suggested that authoritative parenting style significantly mediated the relationship between parental depression and behavior problems. This study highlights the importance of considering parental mental health and its impact on parenting behavior in interventions targeting child behavior problems.

Background Parents of children with developmental delays ( DD) typically report elevated levels of parental stress compared with parents of typically developing children. Children with DD are also at high risk for exhibiting significant behaviour problems. Parental stress has been shown to impact the development of these behaviour problems; however, it is rarely addressed in interventions aimed at reducing child behaviour problems. The current study examined the efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction ( MBSR) for parents of children with DD by investigating whether this intervention is effective in reducing parenting stress and whether decreases in parenting stress lead to reductions in behaviour problems among children with DD. Materials and methods Forty six parents of children with DD were randomly assigned to an immediate treatment or wait list-control group. Participants completed questionnaires assessing parental stress and child behaviour problems at intake and at a second assessment, which took place after only the immediate treatment group had received the MBSR. Results Parents who participated in MBSR reported significantly less stress and depression as well as greater life satisfaction compared with wait list-control parents. Regarding child outcomes, children whose parents participated in MBSR were reported to have fewer behaviour problems following the intervention, specifically in the areas of attention problems and ADHD symptomatology. Discussion Results indicated that MBSR may be an effective intervention for ameliorating parental stress and mental health problems among parents of children with DD. Additionally, these benefits may 'spill over' and improve behaviour challenges among these children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiological studies of children and adolescents with intellectual disability have found 30 to 50% exhibiting clinically significant behavior problems. Few studies, however, have assessed young children, included a cognitively typical comparison group, assessed for specific disorders, and/or studied family correlates of diagnosis. We assessed 236 5-year-old children--95 with developmental delay (DD) and 141 with typical development--for clinical diagnoses using a structured interview. Every disorder assessed was more prevalent in the DD group. The percent of children meeting criteria for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) most highly differentiated the two groups (ratio = 3.21:1). There was high stability from externalizing behavior problems at age 3 to ADHD diagnoses at age 5 in both groups. In regression analyses, parenting stress at child age 3 related to later ADHD diagnosis in both groups and maternal scaffolding (sensitive teaching) also predicted ADHD in the DD group.