The effectiveness of counseling groups in reducing stress of parents of children with learning disabilities

This study investigated the impact of counseling groups as compared with educational groups on attitudes, levels of stress, and sense of control among parents of a child with learning disabilities (LD) and a non-LD sibling. Conducted in one learning center in Israel, the study comprised 49 families in the counseling group and 46 families in the educational group. Results of the hierarchical analyses (mixed models) indicated significantly higher gains in the counseling groups for both mothers (who participated in the intervention) and fathers (who did not), mostly with respect to the child with LD. Children's self-reports supported these gains.