Peer-reviewed article

Stress, social participation, and coping strategies in caregivers of children with developmental delay - An observational study.

Nishanth J, Franklyn NN, George CE · 1 Mar 2026

Abstract

Background Developmental delay refers to children who experience significant variation in the achievement of expected milestones for their actual or adjusted age. Delays may occur in the areas of motor function, speech and language, cognitive, play, and social skills. Caregivers of these children feel stressed and limit their participation in society. This study was designed to assess the parental stress experienced by caregivers, their social participation, and the coping strategies they adopt. Methodology An observational study was carried out on 100 caregivers of children with developmental delay who were enrolled in a rural rehabilitation center. Caregivers were interviewed and assessed for stress, coping strategies, and social participation using specific questionnaires. Results and conclusions The mean age of the caregivers was 32.9 ± 7.76 years, and mainly women (64%). The age of the children ranged from 8 months to 18 years, and most were boys (57%). The proportion of total parental stress was 34%, with the "dysfunctional interaction" subscale at 63%, "parental distress" at 49%, and the "difficult child" subscale at 4%. Only 35% of the participants had no participation restriction, and a significant association between parental distress and social participation was noted (P = 0.004). Though the caregivers used all forms of coping strategies, caregivers with stress used the "avoidant emotional" strategy more compared to those without stress (mean score: 2 ± 0.41 vs 1.65 ± 0.34; P < 0.0001). Caregivers without stress mainly adopted the "problem-focused" coping strategy (mean score: 3.19 ± 0.54 vs 2.86 ± 0.62; P < 0.0001).