Longitudinal effects of an early family intervention programme on the adaptation of parents of children with a disability

This study assesses the longitudinal effects of an original early intervent ion programme on the adaptation of parents of children with a disability (D own syndrome and cleft lip/palate, i.e. DS and CLP). Variations in the effe cts of the programme according to the time of measurement, the type of disa bility and parent's gender are also examined. Globally, the results show a better adaptation among parents who participated in the intervention progra mme compared to those who did not participated in the programme. These pare nts had lower levels of parental stress, they had more positive perceptions and attitudes concerning their child's disability and their parental situa tion, they were more confident in their own resources and the help they cou ld receive from others, they had lower levels of emotional distress, anxiet y and depression and they perceived more emotional support from their spous e. In general, these gains were maintained throughout the year when the chi ldren were between six and 18 months of age, they were relatively similar f or parents of children with DS and parents of children with CLP, as well as for mothers and fathers. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserve d.