engleski

Parents of Children with Developmental Difficulties: Employment Status and Health Outcomes

Having a child with developmental difficulties inevitably leaves a deep trace in the life of an individual. Studies have shown these parents are exposed to higher levels of stress that have spillover effects on their personal lives, health, and everyday functioning. One of the most influential factors is the severity of a child's problems and consequently the level of care needed to meet his/hers needs. Many parents are forced to reduce working hours or completely abandon their professional careers and become caregivers twenty-four seven. The aim of this study was to compare the health status and perceived well-being of parents of children with developmental difficulties while considering their work status. Out of the total sample, we identified 150 parents with a full- time job, 95 who work part-time, and 126 caregivers. In all three groups, the average participant was married, female, with 2 kids and one child with difficulties, and living in a smaller city. The average age of the full- time employed and caregivers was 38, while the part-time employed were on average 42 years old. The results show that all three groups felt their health was slightly poorer compared to the previous year, with statistically significant difference between the full-time employed and the caregivers. The results also show that, in the previous year, the caregivers went to the doctor 3 times on average, while the other two groups went 4 times, but caregivers used 0.3 sick leave days, while the full-time employed used 12.98 days and the part-time employed 16.5 days on average. Regarding future expectations, the caregivers were more convinced their health would deteriorate compared to other two groups of parents. There was no difference among groups of parents regarding their satisfaction with life quality and purpose of living, relationships, level of energy, happiness, or feelings of exhaustion and anxiety, but taken together, all parents experienced lower levels of positive and higher levels of negative experience. The results will be discussed in detail in the light of the current struggle for better support from the social services of the Republic of Croatia.

Parents of Children with Difficulties, Health Outcomes, Caregivers, Quality of Life

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