Identification of Stress in Latino Families who have Young Exceptional Children

Abstract

The Latino population in the US is growing and there are many stressors that can accompany life in a new country; much more so when a family has a child with special needs. The aim of the present study is to explore the experiences and stressors of Latino families in Eastern North Carolina who have young exceptional children. A sample of 10 parents completed modified, translated versions of a widely used stress index along with a questionnaire that specifically addressed experiences and challenges regarding adaptation to a new culture and parenting children with special needs. The stress index contained items from both parent and child characteristic domains. Parents ranked each item on a scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree, and answered translated, open-ended questions with the available assistance of a translator. Significant, positive correlations were observed between certain parent and child domains. Qualitative responses were also analyzed, with themes surfacing such as lack of information, changes in priorities, changes in family relationships, and a sense of being overwhelmed. Results of this study provide insight into the largely unexplored experiences of Latino families in the US who have children with special needs.