Parents' report of family life with a developmentally delayed child

Abstract

This study was undertaken to investigate how parents who have a child with some degree of handicap perceive the effect of the child on family life. Also, a measure of parental health was taken. The parents' response was compared with that of parents of age-matched children without any known developmental difficulties. The parents and children were grouped according to the manifested handicap of the child [Down's syndrome, developmental quotient (DQ) greater than 65, DQ less than 65 with/without limb dysfunction and normal controls]. The children's ages ranged from 4 to 126 months and they all had received the South Galmorgan Home Advisory Service (HAS) at some time. Sixty-one families completed a questionnaire concerning family life and activities and Rutter's Malaise Inventory (Rutter et al. 1971). Thirty-one control families also completed the questionnaire and Malaise Inventory. The findings showed very little difference between the control group and handicapped groups and suggested that the presence of a delayed child in the family unit does not appear to change the family routine to any large extent. Parents of handicapped children were not found to suffer from significantly greater ill health when compared with the parents of normal children. The implication of the results is that provision should be made available for both fathers and mothers to play an equal part in the support facilities and guidance offered.