Parents of children with special health care needs who have better coping skills have fewer depressive symptoms.

Objectives: Describe and quantify coping skills and prevalence of depressive symptoms in parents of children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Describe the association of coping skills with parental depressive symptoms, severity of child's condition and family demographic characteristics.

Methods: A baseline questionnaire was administered to parents of CSHCN 2-11 years old.