Thesis (Ed. S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Counseling Psychology and Special Education, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 37-40).

Thesis (M.S.) in Human Development--University of Maine, 2002. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-73).

Note: / The effects of disability on sibling well-being and sibling relationship quality wereevaluated. Particularly, two disabilities (Phelan-McDermid syndrome and attentionhyperactivity disorder) with significantly different functional implications were examined.Siblings completed measures on behavioural and emotional functioning, self-concept,and sibling relationship quality. For both disability groups, no positive or negative effectson sibling weIl-being were found when compared to siblings oftypicaIly developingchildren. Sibling relationship quality was different for aIl three groups of siblings. Whenthere was disability in the home, siblings reported less intimacy in their relationships.Siblings of children with Phelan-McDerrnid syndrome reported more mutual admiration,more power and less conflict in their relationships than siblings oftypically developingchildren. They also reported more warmth in their relationship than siblings of childrenwith attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The importance of understanding howdisability in the home can affect siblings is emphasized. / Les effets de troubles de santé sur le bien-être d'enfants de même famille et sur lesrelations entre frères et soeurs furent évalués. Particulièrement, deux syndromes, lesyndrome de Phelan-McDermid et le Trouble du Déficit de l'Attention avec ou sansHyperactivité (TDAH), qui ont implications pratiques significativement différentes furentexaminés. Les entants de même famille ont complété des questionnaires sur leurfonctionnement émotionnel et comportemental, leur concept de soi et la qualité de larelation avec leur frère ou leur soeur. Pour les deux groupes d'enfants avec un frère ouune soeur atteinte d'un trouble quelconque, aucun effet positif ou négatif sur le bien-êtrefut découvert comparativement aux enfants de familles typiques. Toutefois, la qualité desrelations entre enfants de même famille était différente dans les trois groupes. Quand l'undes enfants était atteint d'un trouble, moins d'intimité était rapportée dans la relationentre frères et soeurs. Les frères et soeurs d'enfants atteints du syndrome de PhelanMcDermidont déclaré qu'ils éprouvaient plus d'admiration, plus de pouvoir et moins deconflits entre eux que chez des enfants de familles typiques. Ils ont aussi exprimé plus detendresse dans leur relation que dans les familles d'enfants avec un TDAH. Cet ouvragesouligne également l'importance de comprendre comment les problèmes de santé d'unenfant peuvent affecter les autres enfants de leur famille.11

The raison d'être of my research is simple: it’s about tossing one more starfish back into the surf. Down syndrome is not a disease, nor is it contagious or a death sentence (it only feels that way when you find out for the first time). At the moment of conception, the apprearance of extra genetic material results in a total of 47 chromosomes in every cell. Usually each cell has only 46, thus making an individual with Down syndrome far more like others than different from them. Yet, this extra chromosome presents special circumstances regarding their ability to acquire new skills, be it academic or practical, encompassing a specific learning profile with typical characterisitcs, strengths and weaknesses. Twenty-first century family life is simultaneously challenging and richly rewarding and the expectancy of most families are of a life lived on paved highways with well-marked signs, and rest stops never far apart. Adding an extra chromosome to the luggage sends the family travelling down a vastly different highway instead, not always knowing what is ahead. It’s scary, but in reality even those on the wide smooth roads do not know the future. Echoing the feelings of many parents, Leonard (1992: 5) states, “The trouble is that we have few, if any maps to guide us on the journey or show us how to find the path…” Assumptions from previous decades that used to increase stress associated with rearing a child with Down syndrome would negatively impact on individual family members and the family unit as such. This has made way for the growing consensus that it is not necessarily the norm. Whilst some families have trouble in adapting to the increased stress, other families adjust easier and even thrive. Successful adaptation seems more likely in resilient families who enjoy high levels of parental well-being and strong relationship bonds. Findings of this qualitative research study confirm that unresolved marital strains are more likely to result in divorce as opposed to the birth of their child with Down syndrome. Correspondingly, siblings of children with Down syndrome reported mostly positive impact than negated opportunities to participate in a normal childhood. My motivation for this research was to explore the nature of challenges faced by modern families and to provide mechanisms to facilitate positive adaptation for the family and aid vii inclusion of the child with Down syndrome into school and greater society. Recommendations are also presented for the medical professionals who, ironically, have proved to be the last people parents want to go for support, owing mostly to their decidedly objectionable treatment of parents; as well as the generally uninformed public, who seldom understand or support attempts of parents to include and expose their child to everyday experiences. In conclusion, I summarize: Should it be that I may influence but one person to see persons with Down syndrome for the potential that they hold instead of the associated problems of their condition, this would afford me the satisfaction and contentment knowing that I have succeeded in making a positive contribution to their plight. I would have successfully portrayed the families for the ordinary people they are with anticipations, aspirations and anxieties, but later tasting the elation of being empowered, and the resultant enjoyment and pride of the achievements of their extraordinary “starfish” child. The simple story below explains it all. A little boy was walking on the beach when he noticed scores of starfish washed onto the beach by the previous night’s high tide. He curiously watched as an old man bent down, came up slowly and tossed one starfish after the other into the surf. He went closer to investigate. “Excuse me, sir, what are you doing?” he enquired. The old man said: “I am throwing the starfish back into the ocean before they die, my boy…come, lend a hand”. The boy looked up and down the beach at the hundreds of starfish scattered along the shoreline. “But there’s too many…” said the boy, “it’ll make no difference!” The old man smiled, bent down, picked up another starfish, and carefully tossing it into the clear blue water, he replied, “…It makes a difference to this one…”

Note:

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1985.

The purpose of this study was to compare the attachment process of mothers with and without a handicapped infant and to examine the effects of stress and the social support network on this process. The research was a prospective, longitudinal study comparing two different mother-infant groups on the dependent variable, maternal attachment. The independent variables handicap-nonhandicap, maternal characteristics, perinatal events, and other stressors were analyzed for their effect on maternal attachment. The social support network was examined to determine its direct and indirect effect on the attachment process. The sample was composed of 36 mother-infant dyads. Data were gathered in the home at one, six, and twelve months postpartum using interviews, questionnaires and observation. Upon completion of data collection, comparisons were made between those mothers having a handicapped infant (n = 15) and those having a nonhandicapped infant (n = 21). Quantitative and qualitative techniques were employed to answer the study questions. The results indicate that there were significant differences in maternal attachment at one month postpartum with the mothers having a handicapped infant exhibiting fewer attachment behaviors. When the effects of prenatal support were partialled out, the handicap-nonhandicap variable no longer correlated significantly with maternal attachment suggesting that support was buffering the effects of having a handicapped infant. The results of the qualitative analysis also indicated that mothers having a handicapped infant were having problems with attachment. The support variables, affect and affirmation, were positively associated with maternal attachment for those mothers having a handicapped infant, while aid support was negatively correlated with maternal attachment. The qualitative analysis found that the mothers having a handicapped infant gained new support members and that more professionals became part of their support systems. In spite of gaining new support members, these mothers felt that they had less aid. At one year postpartum, mothers with a handicapped infant were experiencing more stressors than mothers with a nonhandicapped infant. Furthermore, stressors were negatively correlated with maternal attachment.

The goal of this paper will be to further explore the use of Gestalt therapy in the Parent-Education Program and to find a way in which its effectiveness in freeing parents of emotional barriers to growth can be evaluated. Our specific objectives will, therefore be to (1) review the literature and present our own assumptions on parental responses to having a handicapped child, (2) explore the basis of Gestalt therapy and relate it to the needs of parents who have handicapped children. (3) describe the setting in which the Parent-Education Program and its Gestalt component takes place, and (4) suggest the use of the Personal Orientation Inventory (POI) as an appropriate tool for future use in evaluating the effectiveness of the Gestalt component of this program.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tennessee Technological University, 2007. / Bibliography: leaves 84-90.