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Differences in coping by 105 aging mothers ofadults with mental illness and 389 similar mothers of adults with mental retardation were investigated. Although no differences in problem-focused сoрing were found, mothers of adults with mental illness used more emotion-focused coping, which predicted greater maternal depression. For mothers of adults with retardation, depressive symptoms were a function of their child's behavior problems, although this source of stress was buffered by coping. For mothers of adults with mental illness, depression was a function of caregiving demands, but coping did not buffer the effects ofstress. Explanations for findings include maternal perceptions of the context of care, of her control over the disability, and her caregiving efficacy

In recent years, increasing attention has been focused on an emerging group of caregivers, namely aging parents of adult children with severe …