Thoughts of young adults with Down syndrome.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to obtain information about the thoughts of young adults with Down syndrome through interviews of them. METHODS: The numbers of participants were 4 and 7 in order to group interviews and individual interviews. They were recruited through the local Association of Parents of Down syndrome. The study incorporated a qualitative descriptive exploratory design to clarify the actual conditions of the lives young adults with Down syndrome and their own thoughts. RESULTS: Through analysis, six themes emerged: 1) thoughts about work, 2) existence of friends, 3) how to spend leisure time, 4) meaning of disability, 5) relationships with people, and 6) future dreams. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Although young adults with Down syndrome are serious about their work, it is difficult for them to make friends at work. However, they recognized people at work as their comrades and were encouraged by being spoken to by these people. 2) Although they had few opportunities to engage in activities with their friends, they looked forward to the contact with their friends. 3) In their leisure time, they often spent time alone, listening to CDs, or watching YouTube. 4) Four of the participants knew that they had Down syndrome, but they did not deny that fact.

Perceptions and Feelings of Fathers of Children With Down Syndrome.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to obtain information about the lives of families with children with Down syndrome through interviews with the fathers. METHODS: The participants were 9 fathers who were recruited from the local Association of Parents of Down syndrome. Their children were born between 1996 and 2009. The study used a descriptive exploratory design utilizing a focus group. RESULTS: Through analysis of the fathers' transcripts, 7 major themes emerged: 1) crisis of life, 2) emotional turmoil, 3) attitudes toward the disability, 4) parental responsibility, 5) realization of fatherhood, 6) difference of feelings between mother and father, and 7) contact with people. CONCLUSIONS: Fathers were upset with the fact that their children were born with Down syndrome. However, they accepted fatherhood through child-rearing in cooperation with others. The experience of fathers in this study provides practical points for caring for families with children with Down syndrome.

Female families' experiences of caring for persons with schizophrenia.

The caring experiences of female families of persons with schizophrenia were described through exploring the families' descriptions of their experiences. Focus group interviews were conducted with 11 family caregivers. According to content analysis, the experiences revealed five major themes: early family experiences, family perceptions of illness and relatives with schizophrenia, family burden and suffering, family attitudes toward relatives with schizophrenia, and family thoughts about society and mental health resources. Also, the families had strength to overcome considerable adversity. It is needed for professionals to listen to family caregivers' narratives carefully and improve the support by focusing on accepting their experiences and histories with persons with schizophrenia.