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. 2020 Apr:99:103578.
doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103578. Epub 2020 Jan 31.

Self-care in caregivers of children with FASD: How do caregivers care for themselves, and what are the benefits and obstacles for doing so?

Carson Kautz  1 , Jennifer Parr  2 , Christie L M Petrenko  3
Affiliations

Self-care in caregivers of children with FASD: How do caregivers care for themselves, and what are the benefits and obstacles for doing so?

Carson Kautz et al. Res Dev Disabil. 2020 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Caregivers of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have elevated levels of stress, which can negatively impact family functioning and caregivers' mental and physical health. Self-care is a critical resource to address caregivers' stress.

Aims: This study describes strategies and obstacles related to self-care reported by caregivers of children with FASD. It also examines how caregivers' perceived confidence in and frequency of self-care is related to stress, parenting attitudes, and family needs.

Methods & procedures: Forty-six caregivers of children with FASD identified self-care strategies and obstacles and rated their confidence and frequency of self-care. Additional measures of perceived parenting efficacy, stress, family needs, child behavior, and family demographics were administered. Correlation analyses examined associations between self-care and measures of child and family functioning.

Results: Self-care strategies and obstacles were varied. Greater reported confidence in self-care was associated with less parental distress and more satisfaction in the parenting role. Frequency of self-care was positively associated with confidence in self-care but not with any other measure of family functioning.

Conclusions: Caregivers use a variety of strategies and face significant obstacles in self-care. Confidence in self-care may be associated with lower stress and greater satisfaction in the parenting role.

Keywords: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders; Fetal alcohol syndrome; Parenting; Prenatal alcohol exposure; Self-care; Stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest None.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Diagnostic categories under the classification of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) according to Hoyme et al., 2016.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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