THE IMPACT OF PARENTAL STRESS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF BEHAVIORAL MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES AT HOME

Abstract

Raising a child with special needs presents exceptional challenges, especially in executing Behavior Management Techniques (BMTs) at home. This explanatory research examines the connection between the home-based application of BMTs and parental stress in the Pakistani context. Through a purposive sampling technique, 150 parents who used behavior management techniques at home were selected. The Parents' Stress Checklist was used to assess parents' stress levels, with additional questions to understand which parents use behavior management techniques at home and how. Results reveal that parents experience high levels of stress during implementation, which may delay the efficiency of interventions. Particularly, no significant gender differences were found in the described stress levels, signifying that both fathers and mothers are similarly affected. These outcomes emphasize the essential role of culturally sensitive, stress-reducing support systems to improve the accomplishment of home-based interventions and overall family well-being.