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Failure to replicate a robust Down syndrome advantage for maternal well‐being
Author(s) -
Jess M.,
Flynn S.,
Bailey T.,
Hastings R. P.,
Totsika V.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of intellectual disability research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.941
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1365-2788
pISSN - 0964-2633
DOI - 10.1111/jir.12808
Subject(s) - down syndrome , psychology , intellectual disability , mental health , distress , developmental psychology , life satisfaction , clinical psychology , quality of life (healthcare) , well being , psychiatry , social psychology , psychotherapist
Background Family members caring for children with intellectual disability (ID) routinely report heightened levels of psychological distress. However, families of children with Down syndrome typically report better outcomes (known as the Down syndrome advantage). We examined whether the Down syndrome advantage would be present for maternal psychological distress, impact of caregiving, life satisfaction and perceived positive impact of the child with ID when controlling for external variables. Methods Mothers of children with Down syndrome ( n = 111) and mothers of children with ID of mixed aetiologies ( n = 196) completed measures about their own mental health, perceived impact of caregiving, life satisfaction and perceived positive impact of their child on themselves and the family unit. Results A series of group comparisons revealed small to moderate differences supporting the presence of a putative Down syndrome advantage in relation to personal maternal well‐being outcomes. However, when child‐related characteristics and external variables were controlled, the Down syndrome advantage was no longer present, with reduced, small effect sizes observed for all maternal outcomes. Conclusions Initial group differences in psychological distress and life satisfaction were largely associated with family poverty, indicating that the Down syndrome advantage may be less robust than previously thought. Future research should seek to move beyond examining the existence of the putative Down syndrome advantage and focus on how families of children with Down syndrome experience family life, including longitudinal research exploring responses to life cycle and transition challenges.