39 DOWN SYNDROME: SURVEY

Abstract

Questionnaires were sent to parents of Down syndrome children in 1970 and 1974 attempting to determine their views on various subjects relating to having a child with Down syndrome. Because of some of the fallicies present in questionnaires, in 1977, parents were interviewed and asked the same questions. A total of 194 answered the questionnaire and 35 were interviewed. We were interested in determining if having a Down syndrome child had any effect on the marriage. In 1970 and 1974, 38 percent of the respondents answered that their relationship had changed in a positive manner since having a child with Down syndrome. Fifty-eight percent said there was no change and 3 percent said there was a negative change. Of the parents interviewed, 46 percent said they had a more positive relationship with their spouse, 49 percent said there was no change and 6 percent said there was a negative relationship. In 1974, 15 percent of the parents believed they had a more positive relationship with their other childen since having a child with Down syndrome. In 1977, more fathers than mothers believed they had a more positive relationship when compared to the 1974 figures. Generally, as the children became older there were no significant changes in the parents' responses. The divorce rate in the 1970 and 1974 survey was 4 percent. There were no divorces in the smaller interview group.