Health and Life Satisfaction Among Parents of Children with Physical Disabilities

The current study examined patterns of self-reported health and life satisfaction among parents of children with and without physical disabilities. Although research has shown that parents of children with disabilities face numerous challenges, no studies to date have exclusively focused on samples comprised entirely of families at risk for poverty and dissolution. The present study examines potential impacts of child disability on parent well-being above and beyond economic and social factors. The current study used data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Statistical analyses compared self-reported physical health and life satisfaction between parents of children with and without disabilities, controlling for numerous demographic and financial factors. The resulting sample was families of 4324 children, including 115 children with physical disabilities. Although parents of children with disabilities reported lower levels of health and life satisfaction over time, these differences did not exist for mothers when controlling for demographic and financial factors. However, child disability still significantly predicted fathers’ health beyond measures of poverty, education, and race. Even among at-risk populations, the presence of a child disability can have an impact on parents’ health and well-being. Parents of children with disabilities at risk for poverty and dissolution likely need additional, specialized supports and services to promote family health.