Parents of kids with disability more likely to be burnt out, study finds

Parents caring for young children with disabilities face significantly higher rates of psychological distress and poorer health, according to a major Australian study. The research, involving over 10,000 caregivers, revealed these parents are twice as likely to experience psychological distress and nearly twice as likely to report not being in good health. Furthermore, they are 50% more prone to finding parenting demanding than caregivers of children without disabilities.

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This has significant consequences, not only for the parents and their mental health, but for the safety and wellbeing of the children.

Skye Kakoschke-Moore, CEO of Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA), highlighted the severe consequences for both parents' mental well-being and children's safety. She noted that many exhausted parents are at their breaking point and, without adequate support, may be forced into the heartbreaking decision of relinquishing their child into care. The study, named 'Parenting Today,' surveyed over 120 questions across seven key areas, comparing the experiences of nearly 5,000 parents of children under nine, including 600 who care for a child with a disability.

These findings emerge as the government prepares to transition some families from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to the new 'Thriving Kids' program in October. This $4 billion program aims to shift children with lower support needs to mainstream services, while the NDIS focuses on those requiring more intensive assistance. However, the reforms have introduced uncertainty for some families regarding whether the new system will adequately meet their children's needs.

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They may be left with no other choice but to relinquish their child into care.

Lead researcher Dr. Catherine Wade pointed out that 48% of parents of children with disabilities reported feeling lonely, compared to 31% of other parents. Many also experience frustration and guilt, feeling they are not meeting their own parenting expectations. Wade warned that parental frustration can escalate into irritable or aggressive reactions toward children, adding that a lack of clarity about future support exacerbates parental stress.

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The risk there is, that when we're feeling frustrated as parents, we're more likely to escalate into more irritable, hostile, aggressive reactions to our children.