The identification of psychosocial factors can help identify key interventions to protect the physical health of caregivers. These interventions may improve the physical and mental health of parents of children with DD.

Cedarville University

- Research has shown that parents of children with DD have poorer physical health
- Examples: Poor sleep, headaches, increased risk for hypertension, increased risk of infection
- Poor physiological functioning may be a cause
  - This association is driven by social support and child problem behaviors
  -  Not enough research related to coping styles

Physical Health of Caretakers of those with DD



Cantwell, J., Muldoon, O. T., & Gallagher, S. (2014). Social support and mastery influence the association between stress and poor physical health in parents caring for children with developmental disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 35(9), 2215-2223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2014.05.012

Social support and mastery influence the association between stress and poor physical health in parents caring for children with developmental disabilities

How Health Professionals Can Help Caregivers Protect Their Physical Health

- Perceived stress is associated with poorer physical health
- Social Support is helpful to an extent depending on the perceived stress level
- Parents may not have access to the support they need
 - Parents experiencing high levels of stress may need more formal and practical forms of support
  - Examples include respite or various interventions

How Stress Impacts the Physical Health of Caretakers

Mastery can be greatly atributed to stress appraisal, which focuses on how parents cope with the stress of raising their children with DD. It is also associated with the new development of psychological intervention for caregivers.
One of the key points is the development of coping skills, which are more effective the earlier they are implemented.

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