The long-term effects of children's early-onset disability on marital relationships.
To investigate the long-term effects of a child's chronic illness or severe physical or intellectual disability on parents and their marital relationship, the parents of 89 children, aged 14-17, years were interviewed. The parents returned a questionnaire and a social worker interviewed them. One-fifth of the respondents had experienced the child's disability as contributing positively to the marital relationship, 25% reported impairment in some areas of the marital relationship, while only 7% felt that they had drawn apart from each other. A higher level of occupational education, insecurity at onset, heavy daily demands for care of the child, unequal distribution of tasks between the spouses and a lack of time for leisure activities were found to be risk factors for impaired marital satisfaction. Adequate information, a realistic notion of the illness or disability and practical advice for everyday life seemed to be the protective factors for the marital relationship.
Taanila
A
A
Department of Public Health Science and General Practice, Oulu, Finland.
Kokkonen
J
J
Järvelin
M R
MR
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000451:nursing; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000451:nursing; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000451:nursing; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload