Mothers of adults with developmental disability: change over time

Predictors of formal service utilization, waiting list use, and caregiving burden were assessed over a 4-year time period for 305 mothers of an adult child. Results indicate that caregiving burden at follow-up is predicted by residential status, burden, child behaviors at baseline, and child placement. Formal service use at follow-up is predicted by formal service use, child behaviors, co-residence at baseline, and child placement. Waiting list use at follow-up is predicted by waiting list use, burden, co-residence at baseline, and child placement. Placement outside the mother's home is predicted by co-residence, mother's functional ability, and waiting list use at baseline. Findings suggest that waiting list use and placement are aspects of an evolving process rather than discrete events.