title: Self-reported adjustment, chronic sorrow, and coping of parents of children with Down syndrome.
abstract: Mothers and fathers of children with Down syndrome were surveyed on overall patterns of adjustment and on frequency of chronic sorrow and coping behaviors. Fathers overwhelmingly (83%) depicted their adjustment in terms of steady, gradual recovery, while the majority of mothers (68%) reported a peaks-and-valleys, periodic crises pattern; chi 2 = 8.64, p less than .01. Mothers also reported higher frequencies for chronic sorrow as well as for behaviors such as self-blame and expression of negative affect. Thus, mothers and fathers in the same family may experience distinct differences in adjustment and coping as parents of a handicapped child.
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland, School of Nursing, Baltimore.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Damrosch
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Perry
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D004314:Down Syndrome; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*