Relationship Between Parenting Stress and Psychological Well-Being Among Mothers of Children Diagnosed with Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background: Mothers of young children with neurodevelopmental disorders may experience substantial parenting demands, but their recent positive mental well-being varies. Objective: To examine the association between parenting stress and psychological well-being among mothers of children aged 0?6 years diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders. Methods: This quantitative cross-sectional correlational study analyzed 85 mothers using the 18-item Parental Stress Scale (PSS-18) and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and a Spearman sensitivity analysis were reported. Results: Mean PSS-18 was 67.55 (SD = 4.73), and mean WHO-5 transformed score was 64.85 (SD = 12.92). Parenting stress was negatively correlated with well-being (Pearson r = -0.675, 95% CI [-0.777, -0.540], p < .001). Spearman correlation was also negative (? = -0.634, p < .001). Conclusion: Greater reported parenting stress was associated with lower recent subjective well-being in this sample. The cross-sectional design does not establish causation. These findings underscore the relevance of attending to caregivers? psychological experiences alongside child-focused services.