The quality of interaction between parents with mild intellectual disabilities and their young children: In search of associated factors

Background This study tested whether information obtained in providing support to families with a parent with mild intellectual disabilities (MID) may be indicators for parentchild interaction and parenting behaviours that are in need for assessment and intervention. Method Data were taken from pre-test assessment for an intervention study with parents with MID (N = 85; 98% female) and their children (age M = 3.1, SD = 1.4; 52% female). Harmonious parent-child interaction was rated on the basis of the Three-bags procedure conducted in the home. Sensitive discipline was rated during a Doand a Don’t-task. Parents were interviewed on parenting stress and social support. Direct care staff assessed parental adaptive functioning, quality of the home environment, and externalizing child behaviour problems. Results Only for harmonious interaction, and sensitive discipline in the Don’t task, indicators contributed significantly to the explanation of variance. The only significant unique factor was parental adaptive functioning (ß = .24 for harmonious interaction and ß = .27 for sensitive discipline). Conclusion Assessment of potential support needs for families of parents with MID may take adaptive functioning as a starting point, but may require a more direct focus on parenting.