Document Type
Paper
Publication Date
4-29-2026
Faculty Mentor
Kelly McGloon
Abstract
Importance:
Research shows that parental stress negatively impacts child developmental outcomes, indicating caregiver well-being can directly influence intervention responses. Parental stress is a well-documented barrier to effective early intervention that remains unmeasured.
Objective:
This quality improvement project aims to assess the potential for adoption of a parent stress measure into family assessment to ensure caregiver well-being is systematically identified, documented, and addressed.
Design:
A feasibility project design was used to evaluate relevance, usability, barriers, and facilitators to introducing a standardized stress measure in practice.
Setting:
The project is based in an early intervention program.
Participants:
Key stakeholders were recruited from statewide early intervention districts to include program administrators, early interventionists, providers, and parents.
Intervention:
A training module was developed exploring feasibility of incorporating a standardized stress measure to assess and track parent stress in early intervention settings.
Outcome Measures:
Quantitative and qualitative data was collected through a post-training survey and stakeholder interviews using a mixed-method approach.
Results:
91% of early interventionists and providers surveyed reported increased knowledge after viewing training module, 83% rated high perceived relevance, and 80% indicating strong intent to use information learned. Stakeholder interviews indicated support of parent stress screening. Time constraints, needing more information, gaining parent trust, and assessment approval were reported barriers.
Conclusions and Relevance:
This project’s focus is to strengthen early intervention responsiveness to parent well-being by introducing a standardized parental stress measure into existing family assessment, better equipping providers in recognizing stress-related barriers to parent participation, informing support strategies, and improving family-centered care.
Recommended Citation
Chaff, Karla Michelle, "Parent Well-Being in Early Intervention: The Case for Assessing Parental Stress" (2026). Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Innovations in OT Symposium: Transforming Possibilities into Practice. 35.
https://medica-musc.researchcommons.org/muscotd-ppotd/35