PREDICTING PLACEMENT IN FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHILDREN WITH SEVERE HANDICAPS - A LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS

Effects of child characteristics and home environment on caregiver's b ehavioral intentions regarding placement were examined longitudinally for 100 families of children with severe mental retardation. Prior beh avioral intentions significantly predicted actual placement, independe nt of other factors. Child characteristics, with one exception, failed to predict intentions or actual placement behavior. The more normativ e the child's appearance, the less likely caregivers were to seriously consider placement and to place. Higher socioeconomic standing of mot hers promoted more serious consideration of placement as did larger nu mbers of siblings. Some factors of home quality promoted more active c onsideration but did not directly affect actual placements. Stress on caregiver contributed to both placement intentions and actual placemen ts. Support resources, on the other hand, had little effect on placeme nt intentions or placement.