here explored both mediator and moderator models
of the action of self-efficacy.
In the present research we also addressed a
number of important methodological issues. First,
much stress research suffers from a lack of independent
measurement of stressor variables and parental
outcomes. Typically, parents report on the
behavior problems of their children and self-report
on stress or another outcome. In the present
study, we relied on self-reports of psychological
distress but asked teachers rather than parents to
rate the behavior problems of the children. Second,
it is clear from existing research that mothers
and fathers are affected differently by the experience
of raising a child with developmental disabilities
(e.g., Krauss, 1993; Roach, Orsmond, &
Barratt, 1999). Therefore, we included measurement
of both fathers and mothers in the present
study. Finally, in the majority of existing research
studies, investigators used a measure of general
parenting stress as their outcome variable or one
designed to be used with samples of families of
children with disabilities. In the present research,
we adopted a standard measure of depression and
anxiety used more widely in mental health research