PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Sandra Maureen Marquis
AU  - Kimberlyn McGrail
AU  - Michael Hayes
TI  - Mental health of parents of children with a developmental disability in British Columbia, Canada
AID  - 10.1136/jech-2018-211698
DP  - 2020 Feb 01
TA  - Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
PG  - 173--178
VI  - 74
IP  - 2
4099  - http://jech.bmj.com/content/74/2/173.short
4100  - http://jech.bmj.com/content/74/2/173.full
SO  - J Epidemiol Community Health2020 Feb 01; 74
AB  - Background There is evidence in the literature that parents of children who have a developmental disability experience an increased risk of mental health problems.Methods This study used population-level administrative data from the Ministry of Health, British Columbia, Canada, to assess the mental health of parents of children who have a developmental disability compared with the mental health of parents of children who do not have a developmental disability. Population-level and individual explanatory variables available in the data were included in the models.Results At a population level, the study found strong evidence that parents of children who have a developmental disability experience higher odds of depression or other mental health diagnoses compared with parents of children who do not have a developmental disability. Age of the parent at birth of the child, income and location of healthcare services were all associated with outcomes.Conclusion Parents of children who have a developmental disability may be in need of programmes and services that support their mental health.