
Objective: To determine the Parental Stress Scale (PSS) score in parents whosechildren were diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and compareit with the PSS score of parents of typically developing (TD) children.Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study assessed parental stress levelsusing the 18-item Parental Stress Scale (PSS), a self-reported tool, with each itemscored on a five-point Likert scale, total PSS score ranging from 18–90. Participantswere recruited through convenience sampling from four institutions in Gurgaon.Parents of children with NDDs were enrolled from SOCH and Hope Brings Change,while parents of TD children participated from Iris Clinic and Cloudnine Hospitals.Each participant completed a demographic data form and PSS questionnaire.Results: The study included 74 parents—39 with children having NDDs and35 with TD children. Demographic profiles were almost similar between thegroups (except parental employment and child gender). The mean PSS score wassignificantly higher in parents of children with NDDs (46.05 ± 8.86) compared tothose with TD children (34.51 ± 7.70). The mean difference of 11.54 (±1.93 SE;95% CI: 7.70–15.38) was statistically significant (p < 0.001).Conclusion: Parents of children with NDDs experience significantly elevated stresslevels compared to parents of TD children. This can negatively impact parentalwell-being and hinder the emotional and behavioral development of their child.
