They have significantly higher reported rates of depression and anxiety as well as increased risk of developing behavioral and emotional problems (Gurney, Mcpheeters & Davis, 2006; Lach et al., 2009). Common examples of externalizing problem behavior include aggression, tantrums, non-compliance and hyperactivity (Keller & Fox, 2009). Numerous studies have shown children with developmental disabilities or delays are three to four times more likely to display clinically significant levels of problem behavior than children without delays (Baker, Blacher, Crnic & Edelbrock, 2002; Emerson, 2003; Tonge & Einfeld, 2000;).
This increased risk of health problems, psychopathology and problem behaviors in children and adolescents with I/DD, results in increasing parenting demands compared to a typically developing child. Lecavalier, Leone and Wiltz (2006) found a transactional relationship exists between problem behaviors and parental stress. Parent report of stress levels and child behavior problems were found to exacerbate one another over time. Given these increased parenting demands combined with the significant number of children diagnosed with I/DD, it is important to examine the experience of their parents and