Adaptation in Families of Children with Down Syndrome: A Mixed-methods Design

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study, which was guided by the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment, and Adaptation, was twofold (a) to explore family and parental adaptation and factors influencing family adaptation in Korean families of children with Down syndrome (DS) through a quantitative methodology and (b) to understand the life with a Korean child with DS through a qualitative method. METHODS: A mixed-methods design was adopted. A total of 147 parents of children with DS completed a package of questionnaires, and 19 parents participated in the in-depth interviews. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using stepwise multiple regression and content analysis respectively. RESULTS: According to the quantitative data, the overall family adaptation scores indicated average family functioning. Financial status was an important variable in understanding both family and parental adaptation. Family adaptation was best explained by family problem solving and coping communication, condition management ability, and family hardiness. Family strains and family hardiness were the family factors with the most influence on parental adaption. Qualitative data analysis showed that family life with a child with DS encompassed both positive and negative aspects and was expressed with 5 themes, 10 categories, and 16 sub-categories. CONCLUSION: Results of this study expand our limited knowledge and understanding concerning families of children with DS in Korea and can be used to develop effective interventions to improve the adaptation of family as a unit as well as parental adaptation.