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Neurodevelopmental therapy adherence in Australian parent-child dyads: The impact of parental stress

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 June 2019

Sharna J. Loader ,
Nindy Brouwers  and
Lisa M. Burke
Sharna J. Loader
Affiliation:
School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Nindy Brouwers*
Affiliation:
School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Lisa M. Burke
Affiliation:
School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
*
Author for correspondence: Nindy Brouwers, Email: nindy.brouwers@monash.edu
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Abstract

Families with neurodevelopmental disorders engage in varied types of therapies to address behavioural, communication and cognitive challenges. Research suggests that consistent therapy adherence predicts positive therapy outcomes. The present study examined therapy adherence in 55 parent-child dyads where all children had been diagnosed with ASD, ADHD, and/or ID. Parents completed questionnaires assessing demographics, therapy type, adherence to child treatment, parental stress, and challenging child behaviour. The researchers proposed a new scale, the Child Therapy Adherence Scale (CTAS), which initial testing supported as a reliable measure of therapy adherence. Significant relationships were found between parental stress, annual household income and therapy adherence, with parental stress being a notably strong predictor of therapy adherence. No significant relationships were observed between child challenging behaviour, single parent status and therapy adherence. These findings have implications for practitioners, in that parent levels of stress and demographic influences may impact capacity to adhere to recommended home practice and interventions for children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Keywords

therapy adherenceparental stressneurodevelopmental disorders
Type
Articles
Information
The Educational and Developmental Psychologist , Volume 36 , Issue 1 , July 2019 , pp. 22 - 26
Copyright
© Australian Psychological Society Ltd 2019 

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