Common Factors Contributing to the Adjustment Process of Mothers of Children Diagnosed With Down Syndrome: A Qualitative Study

Psychological wellbeing in parents of children with Down syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

We report a review examining the psychological wellbeing of parents of children with Down syndrome (DS) relative to that of parents of typically developing (TD) children. A systematic search identified 57 relevant studies, which were synthesised meta-analytically. Relative to their counterparts with TD children, mothers and fathers of children with DS reported higher levels of parenting stress (mothers: g = 0.57, 95% CI [0.33, 0.81]; fathers: g = 0.40, [0.24, 0.56]), depressive symptoms (mothers: g = 0.42, [0.23, 0.61]; fathers: g = 0.25, [0.02, 0.48]) and psychological distress (mothers: g = 0.45, [0.30, 0.60]; fathers: g = 0.63, [0.26, 0.99]). Small effects were found for anxiety for mothers (g = 0.16, [0.03, 0.29]), with no differences for fathers (g = 0.03, [-0.25, 0.32]). No group differences were found for positive impact of parenting (mothers: g = -0.09, [-0.25, 0.07]; fathers: g = -0.04, [-0.30, 0.22]), while evidence concerning other positive wellbeing outcomes was limited. No significant moderating effects of child age range, country income level, or group differences in parental education level were identified, but limited subgroup analyses were possible. Raising a child with DS may be associated with elevated stress, depressive symptoms, and psychological distress for mothers and fathers. However, levels of parenting reward appear equivalent to those experienced by parents raising TD children.

Adaptation at the Family Level in Families of Individuals With Down Syndrome: A Scoping Review

Down syndrome (DS) is a chromosomal disorder associated with intellectual and physical disabilities and has historically been viewed by health care providers through a negative lens when considering the effect the condition has on the individual, family, and community. The purpose of this scoping review was to provide an overview of recent research concerning adaptation in families of individuals with DS with a focus on family adaptation rather than individual or dyadic adaptation. Three literature indexes were searched from 2017 to 2022, with 41 articles included. Foci of the studies included strength/resilience, stress/coping, and negative/challenge. Thirteen studies reported using a family framework. Multiple methodological approaches and family measures were used in the studies and are outlined. Findings from this review show there has been a shift in focus when researching families of individuals with DS from a negative and challenging experience to one of strength and resilience.

Mothers' experiences of parenting a child with chromosomal structural abnormalities: The journey to acceptance

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the process mothers go through in coming to terms with raising a child with chromosomal structural abnormalities.

METHODS

Sixteen mothers living in Japan were interviewed and a modified grounded theory approach was used for the analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 35 concepts, nine subcategories, and six categories were extracted. The six categories were: (a) Concern about abnormalities; (b) A healthy child is considered as a standard; (c) Deepening attachment to the child; (d) Acceptance of the child as s/he is; (e) Changing attitude toward disabilities; (f) Creating a frontier for other mothers. The parenting journey meant that parents did not move in a straightforward way from the beginning of the process to the endpoint but instead moved between "Deepening attachment to the child" and "Acceptance of the child as s/he is" before they moved ahead.

CONCLUSION

Having support and meeting peers of mothers with similar issues is essential for mothers to review their perspectives that healthy children are the standard against which to measure their child and to motivate them to raise their children, but it was extremely difficult to have such opportunities due to rarity of the disorder. It is crucial to accumulate more practical information so that mothers can access and use it. Mothers also need support to enhance their self-worth while giving due consideration to the possibility that they may be conscious of being stigmatized. Nurses need to advocate for these children and families to get the appropriate help, understanding and support.

Family Sense-Making After a Down Syndrome Diagnosis

The script of parenting shifts when parents learn of their child's Down syndrome diagnosis. To build a theory of the diagnostic experience and early family sense-making process, we interviewed 33 parents and nine grandparents living in the United States who learned prenatally or neonatally of their child's diagnosis. The core category of rescuing hope for the future encompassed the social process of sense-making over time as parents managed their sorrow, shock, and grief and amassed meaningful messages that anchored them as they looked toward the future. Application of the theory to practice underscores the import of early professional support offered to parents at key points in the sense-making process: Early as they disclose the news of the diagnosis to family and friends, and later close friends and kin assimilate meaningful messages about what the diagnosis means as they recalibrate expectations for a hopeful future.