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Locus of control fails to mediate between stress and anxiety and depression in parents of children with a developmental disorder

University of Surrey, UK

Riccardo Draghi-Lorenz

University of Surrey, UK, R.Draghi-Lorenz{at}surrey.ac.uk

Jason Ellis

University of Surrey, UK

Stress, anxiety and depression are raised amongst parents of children with a developmental disorder. However, the processes by which stress leads to depression and anxiety are poorly understood. In a cross-sectional survey, levels of parental stress, depression and anxiety were compared between parents of children with an autistic disorder, children with Down's syndrome and children with no disorder (N = 619) and the mediational role of locus of control was examined. Anxiety and depression were higher in parents of children with a disorder, and highest in parents of children with autism. Locus of control was more external in parents of children with autism. Locus of control failed to mediate the relationship between stress and both anxiety and depression in parents of children with a disorder. This suggests that help for parents of a child with a disorder may be effective if focused on the sources of stress rather than perceived control over events.

Key Words: anxiety • depression • developmental disorder • locus of control • parents • stress

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Autism, Vol. 11, No. 6, 489-501 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1362361307083258


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Hamlyn-Wright, S. Articles by Ellis, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hamlyn-Wright, S. Articles by Ellis, J. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Anxiety Developmental Disabilities Stress Social Bookmarking                         What's this?