Raising a child with a disability presents unique challenges. A relationship education program from the University of Georgia may be able to help, according to a recent study.
The researchers followed 127 couples raising children with disabilities and 493 couples raising kids without disabilities from 2015 to 2020, during their participation in UGA’s ELEVATE program. ELEVATE is a no-cost relationship education program hosted by University of Georgia Cooperative Extension through the Elevate Couples Georgia initiative that helps couples navigate challenges in their relationships.
The couples who participated reported they felt less stressed and had strengthened their relationship skills over the course of the program, and these positive changes were still evident six months after completing ELEVATE.
“Even if you think you’re doing great and your relationship is strong, our relationships tend to get challenged the most when we’re stressed,” said Ted Futris, corresponding author of the study and a professor in the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences. He also serves as director of the Couples and Relationship Enrichment, or CARE, Lab that leads the research and delivery of the ELEVATE program. “Practicing those relationship skills and learning some new ones can help during those times of stress.”
Couples raising children with disabilities report high levels of stress
Before the program started, couples caring for children with disabilities reported higher levels of stress compared to their peers. Women, in particular, felt more stressed, less confident in their romantic relationship and that their partner wasn’t supporting them enough as a co-parent, the study found.
After the program, couples rated their current stress levels, whether they used relationship skills taught in the program such as managing emotions and how supportive their partner is as a co-parent. Overall, the couples reported lower stress levels, with those raising kids with disabilities experiencing a larger drop. The couples also reported improved relationship skills and co-parenting support.
“When you’re stressed as a parent and you don’t feel supported by your partner, the quality of your parenting suffers, which then impacts your child’s well-being,” Futris said. “But under stress, if couples are being supportive of each other and working as a team, then parents engage in much more positive behaviors with their kids. There’s a direct link from how couples are doing to how they parent to how their kids are doing.”
Communication, managing emotions key for strong couples and parents
When emotions are running high, it can be hard to remember to use the skills you’ve learned. That’s why the researchers recommend stepping back when things are getting heated so you can work things out with your partner calmly.
Check in with your partner frequently, show appreciation for them and make time for each other, the researchers said. Previous studies also suggest practicing mindfulness can help strengthen relationships.
Beyond participating in the program itself, Elevate Couples Georgia’s Facebook and Instagram accounts regularly post tips on how to manage stressors in relationships.
“I encourage couples to check in with each other regularly to see how things are going. Even when things are going well, it’s still good to check in and to seek out support rather than wait until you’re really struggling,” Futris said. “Using opportunities like this can help improve your lives and strengthen your relationships.”
This study was published in Child and Family Social Work and funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It was co-authored by Christine Hargrove, Evin Richardson and Assaf Oshri.