Abstract
This study examined fathers' views about the effects of children with Down syndrome on themselves and their families. Taped interviews were obtained from 90 fathers of children aged from 7 to 14 years. Qualitative analysis of the interview data revealed 28 categories of comments made by fathers. The most frequent comment, made by 46% of fathers, was about the cheerful personality of their child with Down syndrome. About 42% of fathers talked about the initial trauma they experienced following the diagnosis; 43% of them bemoaned the restrictions imposed on the family, and 30% commented that the child had minimal effects on family life. The greatest concern expressed by fathers was the long-term provision for their children. More fathers commented on the positive effects on their marriage than on negative effects. The results of this study provide a somewhat different view of fathers' experiences to that found in the existing literature.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bicknell, J. (1988). The psychopathology of handicap. In G. Horobin & D. May (Eds.),Living with mental handicap: Transitions in the lives of people with mental handicaps (pp. 22–37). London: Jessica Kingsley.
Bristol, M. M. & Gallagher, J. J. (1986). Research on fathers of young handicapped children. In J. J. Gallagher & P. M. Vietze (Eds.),Families of handicapped persons: Research, program and policy issues (pp. 81–100). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.
Brotherson, M. J., Turnbull, A. P., Summers, J. A., & Turnbull, H. R. (1986). Fathers of disabled children. In B. E. Robinson & R. L. Barret (Eds.),The developing father (pp. 193–217). New York: Guilford.
Burgess, R. G. (1985).Strategies of educational research: Qualitative methods. London: Falmer Press
Crnic, K. A. & Leconte, J. M. (1986). Understanding sibling needs and influences. In R. R. Fewell & P. F. Vadasy (Eds.),Families with handicapped children (pp. 75–98). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.
Cummings, S. T. (1976). The impact of the child's deficiency on the father: A study of fathers of mentally retarded and of chronically ill children.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 46, 246–255.
Donovan, A. M. (1988). Family stress and ways of coping with adolescents who have handicaps: Maternal perceptions.American Journal on Mental Retardation, 92, 502–509.
Dyson, L. L. (1991). Families of young children with handicaps: Parental stress and family functioning.American Journal on Mental Retardation, 95, 623–629.
Eisenberg, L. (1957). The fathers of autistic children.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 27, 715–724.
Erickson, M. P. (1974). Talking with fathers of young children with Down's syndrome.Children Today, 3, 22–25.
Gallagher, J. J., Cross, A., & Scharfman, W. (1981). Parental adaptation to a young handicapped child: The father's role.Journal of the Division for Early Childhood, 3, 3–14.
Gath, A. & Gumley, D. (1984). Down's syndrome and the family: follow-up of children first seen in infancy.Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 26, 500–508.
George, J. D. (1988). Therapeutic intervention for grandparents and extended family of children with developmental delays.Mental Retardation, 26, 369–375.
Greenfeld, J. (1972).A child called Noah. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
Hannam, C. (1975).Parents and mentally handicapped children. Harmondsworth, UK: Penguin.
Heshusius, L. (1986). Paradigm shifts and special education.Exceptional Children, 52, 461–465.
Hornby, G. (1991a).Effects on fathers of children with disabilities. Unpublished PhD thesis. University of Hull, England.
Hornby, G. (1991b). Parent involvement. In D. Mitchell & R. I. Brown (Eds.),Early intervention studies for young children with special needs (pp. 206–225). London: Chapman and Hall.
Hornby, G. (1992). A review of fathers' accounts of their experiences of parenting children with disabilities.Disability, Handicap & Society, 7, 363–374.
Houser, R. & Seligman, M. (1991). A comparison of stress and coping by fathers of adolescents with mental retardation and fathers of adolescents without retardation.Research in Developmental Disabilities, 12, 251–260.
Hyatt, J. (1986). Analysis of qualitative data. In J. Ritchie & W. Sykes (Eds.),Advanced workshop in applied qualitative research (pp. 32–39). London: Social and Community Planning Research.
Lamb, M. E. (1983). Fathers of exceptional children. In M. Seligman (Ed.),The family with a handicapped child (125–146). New York: Grune and Stratton.
Lamb, M. E. & Meyer, D. J. (1991). Fathers of children with special needs. In M. Seligman (Ed.),The family with a handicapped child (2nd ed., pp. 125–146). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Lewis, C. (1986).Becoming a father. Milton Keynes: Open University Press.
Linder, T. W. & Chitwood, D. G. (1984). The needs of fathers of young handicapped children.Journal of the Division for Early Childhood, 8, 133–139.
Lonsdale, G. (1978). Family life with a handicapped child: The parents speak.Child: Care, Health and Development, 4, 99–120.
Margalit, M., Leyser, Y., & Abraham, Y. (1989). Classification and validation of family climate subtypes in Kibbutz fathers of disabled and non-disabled children.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 17, 91–107.
Markowitz, J. (1984). Participation of fathers in early childhood special education programs: An exploratory study.Journal of the Division for Early Childhood, 8, 119–131.
McAndrew, I. (1976). Children with a handicap and their families.Child: Care, Health and Development, 2, 213–237.
McConachie, H. (1982). Fathers of mentally handicapped children. In N. Beail & J. McGuire (Eds.),Fathers: Psychological perspectives (pp. 144–173). London: Junction.
McConachie, H. (1986).Parents and young mentally handicapped children: A review of research issues. London: Croom Helm.
McNeil, M. & Chabassol, D. J. (1984). Paternal involvement in the programs of hearing-impaired children: An exploratory study.Family Relations, 33, 119–125.
Mercer, R. T. (1974). Two fathers' early responses to the birth of a daughter with a defect.Maternal-Child Nursing Journal, 3, 77–86.
Meyer, D. J. (1986a). Fathers of handicapped children. In R. R. Fewell & P. F. Vadasy (Eds.),Families of handicapped children (pp. 35–73). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.
Meyer, D. J. (1986b). Fathers of children with mental handicaps. In M. E. Lamb (Ed.),The fathers role: Applied perspectives (pp. 227–254). New York: Wiley.
Meyer, D. J., Vadasy, P. F., Fewell, R. R. & Schell, G. (1982). Involving fathers of handicap infants: Translating research into program goals.Journal of the Division for Early Childhood, 5, 64–72.
Mitchell, D. R. (1985). Guidance needs and counselling of parents of persons with intellectual handicaps. In N. N. Singh & K. M. Wilton (Eds.),Mental retardation in New Zealand (pp. 136–156). Christchurch, NZ: Whitcoulls.
Pedersen, F. A. (1980).The father-infant relationship: Observational studies in the family setting. New York: Praeger.
Philip, M. & Duckworth, D. (1982).Children with disabilities and their families: A review of the research. Windsor, England: NFER-Nelson.
Pieper, E. (1976). Grandparents can help.The Exceptional Parent, April, 7–9.
Price-Bonham, S. & Addison, S. (1978). Families and mentally retarded children: Emphasis on the father.The Family Coordinator, 3, 221–230.
Rodrigue, J. R., Morgan, S. B., & Geffken, G. R. (1992). Psychosocial adaptation of fathers of children with autism, Down syndrome, and normal development.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 22, 249–263.
Roesel, R. & Lawlis, G. F. (1983). Divorce in families of genetically handicapped/mentally retarded individuals.American Journal of Family Therapy, 11, 45–50.
Roos, P. (1978). Parents of mentally retarded children: Misunderstood and mistreated. In H. R. Turnbull & A. P. Turnbull (Eds.),Parents speak out (pp. 245–257). Columbus, OH: Charles E. Merrill.
Ross, A. O. (1964).The exceptional child in the family. New York: Grune and Stratton.
Schindele, R. A. (1985). Research methodology in special education: a framework approach to special problems and solutions. In S. Hegarty & P. Evans (Eds.),Research and evaluation methods in special education (pp. 3–24). Windsor: NFER-Nelson.
Seligman, M. (1991).The family with a handicapped child (2nd ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Seligman, M. & Darling, R. B. (1989).Ordinary families: Special children New York: Guilford.
Smith, D. W. & Wilson, A. A. (1973).The child with Down's Syndrome (Mongolism): Causes, characteristics and acceptance. Philadelphia, PA: W. B. Saunders.
Turnbull, H. R. (1978). Jay's story. In H. R. Turnbull & A. P. Turnbull (Eds.),Parents speak out. Columbus, OH: Charles E. Merrill.
Vadasy, P. F., Fewell, R. R., Greenberg, M. T., Desmond, N. L., & Meyer, D. J. (1986). Follow-up evaluation of the effects of involvement in the fathers program.Topics in Early Childhood Education, 6, 16–31.
Vadasy, P. F., Fewell, R. R., Meyer, D. J. & Greenberg, M. T. (1985). Supporting fathers of handicapped young children: Preliminary findings of program effects.Analysis and Intervention in Developmental Disabilities, 5, 151–163.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hornby, G. Fathers' views of the effects on their families of children with Down syndrome. J Child Fam Stud 4, 103–117 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02233957
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02233957