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Failure to replicate a robust Down syndrome advantage for maternal well-being

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Jess, Mikeda , Flynn, Samantha, Bailey, Tom, Hastings, Richard P. and Totsika, Vasiliki (2021) Failure to replicate a robust Down syndrome advantage for maternal well-being. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 65 (3). pp. 262-271. doi:10.1111/jir.12808

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.12808

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Abstract

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.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
Divisions: Faculty of Social Sciences > Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal and Research (CEDAR)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Down syndrome, Intellectual disability, Mothers of children with disabilities
Journal or Publication Title: Journal of Intellectual Disability Research
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
ISSN: 0964-2633
Official Date: March 2021
Dates:
DateEvent
March 2021Published
6 January 2021Available
8 December 2020Accepted
Date of first compliant deposit: 9 December 2020
Volume: 65
Number: 3
Page Range: pp. 262-271
DOI: 10.1111/jir.12808
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Open Access
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant:
Project/Grant IDRIOXX Funder NameFunder ID
UNSPECIFIED[ESRC] Economic and Social Research Councilhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000269
UNSPECIFIEDCerebrahttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002833
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