Coping resources and parenting mentally retarded children.

Four broad dimensions of coping resources (utilitarian resources, energy/morale, general and specific beliefs, and social support) were assessed with a sample of 140 mothers of mentally retarded children. The dimensions were related to a measure of the adequacy of parental coping, i.e., Questionnaire on Resources and Stress-Friedrich Factor 1, Parent and Family Problems. Three of the four categories of coping resources were significant contributors in a regression analysis and contributed additional variance beyond that of behavioral and physical problems of the child. For validational purposes, 104 of these mothers were reexamined 10 months later. The original analysis was supported, and changes in marital satisfaction were related to an increase in parent and family problems over the elapsed time span.