Hope's Influence on Resiliency among Parents with a Child Diagnosed with a Developmental Disability

In the United States, 15% of the population have been diagnosed with a disability (Farrell, Krahn, & Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). The prevalence of individuals being diagnosed with a developmental disability in the United States displays the importance of creating more literature on topics involving developmental disabilities. Added stress on parents not only affects their social, emotional and physical needs, but also can affect their parenting. This study examined the correlation of factors for hope, agency and pathways, with resiliency, knowledge of child’s characteristics, perceived social support, and positive perception of parenting. The study revealed a significant relationship between pathways and overall parental resilience. Agency was shown to have a significant relationship between perceived social supports. Findings also revealed a significant relationship between pathways and positive perception of parenting.