Affiliate Stigma and Marital Satisfaction in Spanish Parents of Children With Intellectual Disabilities

• Published in: Stigma and health (Washington, D.C.) D.C.), 2024-05, Vol.9 (2), p.181-190
• Main Authors: Molero, Fernando, Recio, Patricia, Sarriá, Encarnación
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adjustment; Family Relations; Female; Human; Intellectual Development Disorder; Male; Marital Satisfaction; Perceived Social Support; Self-Efficacy; Self-Stigma
• ISSN: 2376-6972; 2376-6964
• DOI: 10.1037/sah0000478

Parents tend to experience more stress when their children have intellectual disabilities (ID), and this stress often increases the frequency of family conflicts. Previous research has shown that disability in children negatively impacts marital relationships. The present study analyzes, with reference to the double ABCX model of family adaptation, the association between affiliate stigma (parents' internalization of the stigma borne for their children) as a stressor and the parents' marital satisfaction as an adaptation outcome variable, considering two mediating variables: parents' perceived social support and parents' self-efficacy. The study sample comprises 197 Spanish fathers (31%) and mothers (69%) raising children with ID. Most participants' children had been diagnosed with Down's syndrome (37.1%) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with ID (34%). Our study shows that, as predicted, affiliate stigma is inversely associated with marital satisfaction in parents of children with ID and that perceived social support and self-efficacy play a significant mediational role in this association. These findings may contribute to guiding practitioners and social services on how to enhance protective factors and mitigate risk factors influencing family adaptation. Clinical Impact Statement This research shows the important impact of affiliate stigma on marital satisfaction of parents who have children with intellectual disabilities. Specifically, it examines whether social support and self-efficacy may serve as protective factors by preventing the negative consequences of parental affiliate stigma on marital satisfaction. Thus, the findings have implications for theory, research, and practice.