The relationship between stress and stigma, somatization and parental self-efficacy among fathers of adolescents with developmental disabilities in the Bedouin community in Israel.
Stigma and low parenting confidence drive high stress and body complaints in Bedouin fathers of teens with DD.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Kabiyea et al. (2019) asked 90 Bedouin fathers of teens with developmental disabilities to fill out four paper surveys.
The questions measured stress, stigma, parental self-efficacy, and somatization.
All men lived in traditional Bedouin towns in southern Israel.
What they found
Fathers who felt more stigma and lower parenting confidence also reported higher stress and more body aches.
The link was strong even after age, income, and number of children were counted out.
How this fits with other research
Dahiya et al. (2025) extends this work. Their mobile parent-training app cut stress for mixed-culture families, showing tech can reach dads who avoid clinics.
Mount et al. (2011) seems to clash: they found parent confidence predicts using ABA skills, yet Fars shows low confidence hurts fathers. The gap is focus—R looked at skill use, Fars looked on internal pain.
Riebel et al. (2025) echo the stigma theme. Self-stigma raised depression in autistic adults; Fars shows stigma also raises stress in fathers of teens with DD.
Why it matters
You now know stigma and low self-efficacy are twin fuel for stress in minority fathers. Start sessions by asking dads how they feel others view their parenting. Pair this talk with quick wins—like a one-minute praise routine—to rebuild confidence fast.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Although children across the world experience Developmental Disabilities, most research on DD has been conducted using Western cultural perspectives and has primarily focused on mothers, leaving significant gaps in the literature. This study intends to fill some of these gaps by exploring and gaining an understanding of the experiences of fathers raising children with DD. Thus, the aim of this study was: to examine whether stigma, somatization, and parental self-efficacy were associated with stress among Bedouin fathers of adolescents with DD. Besides, the relationship between somatization and stress was examined in this study, as it is mediated by the sense of stigma, as well as the intensity of the mediation of the knowledge of shame, between paternal self-efficacy and stress. METHODOLOGY: Notably, ninety Bedouin fathers of adolescents with DD completed five questionnaires. These questionnaires included demographic, stigma, parental self-efficacy, and stress and somatization questionnaires. RESULTS: Significantly, the study findings indicate significant negative relationships between general stress and parental self-efficacy, parental and economic stress and parental self-efficacy, and sense of stigma and parental self-efficacy. Also, the findings indicate significant positive relationships between stigma and anxiety, fear and somatization, and stigma and somatization. CONCLUSIONS: Arguably, concerning the findings of the study, intervention programs that are culturally tailored and that concern cognitive-behavioral foundations are recommended to help fathers cope with their sense of stigma. Further, the intervention programs help to deal with stress and somatization and to increase their understanding of parental self-efficacy in raising their child. Therefore, these cultural intervention programs should take into account the individual and his extended family, and place of the family in his life, considering the cultural values and the honor of the family. Further, the programs should take into account the centrality of religion and an awareness of the impact of the social hierarchy and the status of the fathers in the community and on the child with disabilities. In essence, these areas are focal points of power that can assist in providing solutions for the intervention program. Also, it is essential to refer to the living and economic conditions of this community.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2019 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2019.04.004