TY - JOUR
T1 - Optimism and benefit finding in parents of children with developmental disabilities
T2 - The role of positive reappraisal and social support
AU - Slattery, Éadaoin
AU - McMahon, Jennifer
AU - Gallagher, Stephen
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2017/6/1
Y1 - 2017/6/1
N2 - Background Researchers have consistently documented the relationship between optimism and benefit finding; however, there is a dearth of research on the psychological mechanisms mediating their association. Aim This cross-sectional study sought to elucidate the mediating role of positive reappraisal and social support in the optimism-benefit finding relationship in parents caring for children with developmental disabilities by testing a parallel multiple mediation model. Method One hundred and forty-six parents caring for children with developmental disabilities completed an online survey assessing optimism, positive reappraisal, social support and benefit finding. Results Optimism was not directly related to benefit finding but rather influenced it indirectly through positive reappraisal and social support. Specifically, higher levels of optimism predicted greater positive reappraisal and social support, which in turn led to greater benefit finding in parents. Conclusion These results underscore the importance of targeting parents’ perceptions of benefits through both positive reappraisal and social support in order to help them cope with the demands of the caregiving context.
AB - Background Researchers have consistently documented the relationship between optimism and benefit finding; however, there is a dearth of research on the psychological mechanisms mediating their association. Aim This cross-sectional study sought to elucidate the mediating role of positive reappraisal and social support in the optimism-benefit finding relationship in parents caring for children with developmental disabilities by testing a parallel multiple mediation model. Method One hundred and forty-six parents caring for children with developmental disabilities completed an online survey assessing optimism, positive reappraisal, social support and benefit finding. Results Optimism was not directly related to benefit finding but rather influenced it indirectly through positive reappraisal and social support. Specifically, higher levels of optimism predicted greater positive reappraisal and social support, which in turn led to greater benefit finding in parents. Conclusion These results underscore the importance of targeting parents’ perceptions of benefits through both positive reappraisal and social support in order to help them cope with the demands of the caregiving context.
KW - Benefit finding
KW - Caregivers
KW - Developmental disabilities
KW - Optimism
KW - Positive reappraisal
KW - Social support
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85017593163&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ridd.2017.04.006
DO - 10.1016/j.ridd.2017.04.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 28432893
AN - SCOPUS:85017593163
SN - 0891-4222
VL - 65
SP - 12
EP - 22
JO - Research in Developmental Disabilities
JF - Research in Developmental Disabilities
ER -