This study compared the perceived personal competence of two groups of parents of primary grade children in Croatia with (N=86) and without (N=186) mild intellectual disability. The comparison was based on the parents' perceived competence in the areas of parental role, self-respect, locus of control, and social anxiousness. Children in the two groups were also compared for hyperactivity and aggressiveness. Parents rated their self-estimations on a five-level Likert-type scale. Children's behavior was estimated by parents and teachers on a three-level estimation scale. A significant difference was found between the two parental groups on perceived competence for parental role, self-respect, locus of control, and social anxiousness. Parents whose children had normal intellectual functioning expressed internal locus of control orientation, estimated higher personal competence for the parental role, indicated higher self-respect, and demonstrated lower social anxiousness than did parents of children with intellectual disabilities. Teacher and parental estimations of children's aggressiveness and hyperactivity showed a significantly lower incidence of these behaviors in children with normal intellectual functioning. The study concluded that the permanent low-intensity stress experienced by parents of children with intellectual disabilities causes a decreased sense of personal competence. Contains 30 references. (DB)