Caregivers of children with IDD may show behaviors that reflect the stress and emotional impact of their demanding role. These indicators vary by individual and can be broadly categorized as signs of distress and problematic or coercive interactions.

The demands of caregiving can lead to emotional changes such as depression, anxiety, isolation, withdrawal, and burnout. Caregivers may experience sleep disruptions, altered eating patterns, stress-related health problems, and maladaptive coping mechanisms like substance abuse.

A caregiver’s behavior can be influenced by their child’s challenging behaviors such as aggression, self-injury, non-compliance. Harsh or coercive parenting such as using frequent criticism, punitive discipline practices, harsh commands, or inappropriate commands, can reinforce or escalate the child's challenging behavior.

Giving commands but failing to follow through can undermine the child’s compliance. Constantly altering routines or actively working to avoid situations that might cause distress in the child can be highly disruptive and unsustainable over time.

Conversely, a caregiver can exhibit positive and supportive behaviors by regularly coordinating and attending appointments for their child’s care and programming (e.g., speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral therapy) and consistently seeking out support, information, and training (such as Behavior Skills Training or positive behavior support strategies) to enhance their child's skills and manage behavior.

Behaviors that prioritize positive family functioning, work toward their child’s independence, and foster a supportive and accepting environment boost their child's self-esteem.