Sense of coherence in parents of children with different developmental disabilities

Background The aim of the present study was to test if Antonovsky's theory of sense of coherence can facilitate understanding: (1) individual differences in psychological adaptation in parents of children with intellectual disability (ID); and (2) why parents of children with ID generally experience higher levels of stress and depression than parents of children who develop normally. Methods Sense of coherence (SoC) and depression were assessed using the short SoC scale (13 items) and the Beck Depression Inventory in 216 families of children with ID and/or autism, and in 213 control families. Results It is argued that: (1) parents of children with ID with low SoC are at increased risk for developing depression compared to control parents with low SoC not experiencing this stressor; and (2) the life situation of parenting a child with ID may have a negative impact on parents' SoC levels that, in turn, will make them more vulnerable to experiencing stress and depression. Conclusion The SoC theory is valuable in understanding individual differences in psychological adaptation in parents of children with ID.