Families, Children, and Down Syndrome: Personal and Social Constructions and Reconstructions

Abstract

From a personal construct psychology perspective, qualitative analysis of narratives from 19 parents of children with Down syndrome represented a common theme of lovable, fun-loving children with courageously adaptive parents. However, follow-up interviews reflected internalised social stereotypes and some marginalisation. The findings demonstrated the need to account for the impact of the social context on parents’ personal constructions which was addressed from the perspective of social constructionism. In follow-up interviews, there was evidence of reconstruction of the meanings the parents’ experiences had for them. Their reflections in the initial narratives seem to have been a trigger for construct revision in the subsequent data collection which yielded more balanced negative as well as [socially imposed] positive constructions, and were also an impetus for four of the families to take steps to secure their own and their children’s future as the parents aged.