*3.1. Parental Distress*

Parental distress descriptive data are showed in Tables 1–6.

Concerning parental distress, the global distress (F(1, 308) = 4981; *p* = 0.02; η<sup>2</sup> p = 0.02), specific antecedents (F(1, 308) = 3.748; *p* = 0.05; η<sup>2</sup> <sup>p</sup> = 0.01), and common antecedents (F (1, 308) = 6.225; *p* = 0.01; η<sup>2</sup> p = 0.02) differed in a significant way between parents having psychological support needs and parents not having this support, in spite of the low effect size value. The higher level of distress on all three scales were obtained by parents who required and obtained psychological or social support.

There were also significant group differences on global distress (F (1, 308) = 8.955; *p* < 0.01; η<sup>2</sup> <sup>p</sup> = 0.03), common antecedents (F (1, 308) = 12.063; *p* = 0.001; η<sup>2</sup> <sup>p</sup> = 0.04), and specific antecedents (F (1, 308) = 6.383; *p* < 0.01; η<sup>2</sup> <sup>p</sup> = 0.02) between parents of children exhibiting "typical" patterns of development and parents of children exhibiting atypical patterns of development, in spite of the low effect size value. Parents having children with special needs reported higher rates of distress on all scales.

**Psychological Support Needs M (SD) Child Atypical Development M (SD) No (***N* **= 206) Yes (***N* **= 102) No (***N* **= 270) Yes (***N* **= 38)** TOT BR2 \* 66.8 (63.6) 50.2 (57.1) 65.2 (60) 33.5 (68.6) F = 4.981; *p*-value = 0.026; η<sup>2</sup> <sup>p</sup> = 0.02 F = 8.955; *p*-value = 0.003; η<sup>2</sup> <sup>p</sup> = 0.03 Tot (*N* = 308) 61.3 (61.9) Tot (*N* = 308) 61.3 (61.9) Common Antecedents \*\* 20.8 (23.2) 13.9 (21.7) 20.2 (21.8) 6.6 (27.1) F = 6.225; *p*-value= 0.013; η<sup>2</sup> <sup>p</sup> = 0.02 F = 12.063; *p*-value = 0.001; η<sup>2</sup> <sup>p</sup> = 0.04 Tot (*N* = 308) 18.5 (22.9) Tot (*N* = 308) 18.5 (22.9) Specific Antecedents \*\*\* <sup>46</sup> (42.9) 36.2 (38.9) 45 (41) 26.8 (44.5) F = 3.748; *p*-value = 0.054; η<sup>2</sup> <sup>p</sup> = 0.01 F = 6.383; *p*-value = 0.012; η<sup>2</sup> <sup>p</sup> = 0.02 Tot (*N* = 308) 42.7 (41.8) Tot (*N* = 308) 42.7 (41.8)

**Table 1.** Parental distress descriptive data and ANOVA analyses for parental psychological support needs and the presence of a child exhibiting atypical patterns of development.

\* Min and max scores: −195; +195. \*\* Min and max scores: −70; +70. \*\*\* Min and max scores: −125; +125.

**Table 2.** Parental distress descriptive data and ANOVA analyses for child age, birth order, and parental age.


\* Min and max scores: −195; +195. \*\* Min and max scores: −70; +70. \*\*\* Min and max scores: −125; +125.

**Table 3.** Parental distress descriptive data and ANOVA analyses for educational level.


\* Min and max scores: −195; +195. \*\* Min and max scores: −70; +70. \*\*\* Min and max scores: −125; +125.


**Table 4.** Parental distress descriptive data for job conditions.

\* Min and max scores: −195; +195. \*\* Min and max scores: −70; +70 \*\*\* Min and max scores: −125; +125.

**Table 5.** Parental distress descriptive data for couples' conditions.


\* Min and max scores: −195; +195. \*\* Min and max scores: −70; +70. \*\*\* Min and max scores: −125; +125.



\* Min and max scores: −195; +195. \*\* Min and max scores: −70; +70. \*\*\* Min and max scores: −125; +125.
