This study explores the effect of a handicapped child on the family from the perspective of social support theory. It examined the relationship between a chronic stressor and social support by testing the proposition, suggested by the clinical literature, that the presence of a severely handicapped child in the home negatively affects the family functioning and social relations of the mother. / The Pattison Social Network Inventory and Moos Family Environment Scales were administered to 20 mothers of a young, multiply, severely handicapped child and 20 mothers of a young, nonhandicapped child. In order to control for potential interacting variables, all subjects were Caucasian, middle class, currently married and living with a spouse. / The two groups were similar on descriptive characteristics with no differences found on the variables of age, religious affiliation, employment status, occupation, residential mobility, recent life changes, community associations and with differences found on education. Overall, the groups were similar in network characteristics with no differences found on the variables of range, family, relatives, friends, co-workers, density, intimacy, durability, affective support provided, affective support received, instrumental support provided, instrumental support received, intensity provided, intensity received and with differences found on professionals, frequency, proximity. Concerning family environment characteristics the groups differed, with differences found on the variables of intellectual-cultural orientation, moral-religious orientation, organization and no differences found on cohesiveness, expressiveness, conflict, independence, achievement orientation, active-recreational orientation, control. / The social networks of both groups were typical in structure and functions of the healthy networks described in the literature. Overall, the family environments of both groups resembled normal populations rather than populations with family problems. The differences on family environment variables between the two groups suggested that the mothers of handicapped children emphasized positive family traits more than the other group. / The findings did not suggest that a young, severely handicapped child adversely affects the social and family relations of Caucasian, middle class, married mothers. For this selected population, the presence of a chronic stressor did not seem to negatively affect the social support system. Further research concerning the effect of race, socioeconomic status and marital status on the social networks and family environments of parents of handicapped children is recommended. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 41-09, Section: A, page: 4183. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1980.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_74290 |
| Contributors | SAUR, WILLIAM GEORGE., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 109 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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