The Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC) at the University of Granada, in collaboration with the University of Castilla-La Mancha, has conducted a study to investigate the relationship between stress and the physical and mental quality of life of caregivers of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and the performance of these children in activities of daily living. The study involved 43 fathers and 46 mothers of minors aged between 3 and 12 years.
The results showed significant relationships between the stress perceived by mothers and fathers and the performance of their children in executive functions and sensory processing. For example, it was found that the greater the difficulty in these areas, the higher the stress and the lower the physical quality of life of their caregivers.
In turn, a lower performance by the children in activities of daily living was related to poorer physical health in the caregivers. This suggests that supporting the functional development of children not only improves their independence but can also alleviate the burden on those who accompany them in their daily lives.
This work provides evidence of a reality that many families experience every day: caregiving involves much more than attending to basic needs. It means providing emotional support, adapting to constant challenges and, in many cases, doing so with limited support. Understanding this relationship between child development and family well-being is fundamental for building healthier and more resilient environments.
Reference:
Lobato-Ruiz V, Romero-Ayuso D, Toledano-González A, Triviño-Juárez JM. Quality of life and parental stress related to executive functioning, sensory processing, and activities of daily living in children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders. PeerJ. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.19326
Contact
Vanesa Lobato Ruiz (vmlobatoruiz@gmail.com)
Dulce Romero Ayuso (dulceromero@ugr.es)
Abel Toledano González (abeltoledano@uma.es)
José Matías Triviño Juárez: (jmtjuarez@ugr.es)