Longitudinal comparisons of families who have adopted children with mental retardation.
Families with adopted mentally retarded children were contacted 3 years after original study to assess longer term adjustment. Data from 80% of the original sample indicated continued good family adjustment on a number of measures, including the Holroyd Questionnaire on Resources and Stress. Only 2 of 44 children were no longer living with their adoptive/foster parents for reasons related to adjustment difficulties. In contrast, 12 of the families had adopted or were fostering additional children, 11 of whom had handicapping conditions. These data indicate a positive prognosis for adoption as a desirable option for the rearing of children with mental retardation.
Glidden
L M
LM
Division of Human Development, St. Mary's College of Maryland, St. Mary's City 20686.
Pursley
J T
JT
D000293:Adolescent; D000300:Adoption; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D012917:Social Adjustment