Family and down syndrome: Stress, coping and family resources

Abstract

This study aims to identify levels of stress and coping strategies of parents of children with Down syndrome (DS), as well as the adequacy of family resources. Fourteen families with a child with DS were visited. The parents filled out the questionnaire of family system characteristics, the inventory of stress, the coping strategies inventory and the scale of family resources. The results show that mothers (n = 7) and fathers (n = 6) present symptoms of stress in resistance and quasi exhaustion stages. The coping strategies used by parents are problem solving and social support. The data from family resources scale indicate that these are fairly adequate to the needs of these families. We highlight the importance of intervention programs for these families.