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Development of Down's syndrome infants with and without heart defects and changes in their caretaking environment
Insights
Infants with Down syndrome showed developmental declines but had similar home environments to normal infants. Maternal responsivity improved more in normal infants
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatrics
- Genetics
Background:
- Infants with Down syndrome (DS) present unique developmental trajectories.
- Early intervention programs aim to support infants with DS and their families.
- Understanding factors influencing development in DS is crucial for effective care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize developmental and family factors in infants with DS in an intervention program.
- To investigate how maternal age and congenital heart defects impact development and caretaking in infants with DS.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal assessment of infants with DS and a comparison group of normal infants at 3.5 and 24 months.
- Evaluation of infant development and home environment characteristics.
- Analysis of caretaking patterns in relation to maternal age and presence of heart defects.
Main Results:
- Infants with DS showed a significant decline in developmental quotient compared to controls.
- Home environments were initially similar, but normal infants' homes showed greater improvement, especially in maternal responsivity.
- Older mothers exhibited more restrictive behaviors towards infants with DS.
- Infants with DS without heart defects had a better home environment than those with heart defects.
Conclusions:
- Biological limitations and parental adaptation challenges influence development in infants with DS.
- Maternal responsivity is a key factor in the home environment's improvement.
- Congenital heart defects and maternal age are associated with caretaking differences in infants with DS.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study is two-fold: (1) to describe developmental and family characteristics of infants with Down's syndrome who were enrolled in an intervention programme; and (2) to examine developmental and caretaking patterns related to maternal age and congenital heart defects. Infants and their home environment were assessed at about 3 1/2 months and at 24 months of age. A sample of normal infants of equivalent developmental age were also tested for comparison. We found that while the infants with Down's syndrome showed a significant decline in their developmental quotient compared to the normals, their home environments resembled those of the normal group, particularly at the pretest. Yet, there were more improvements in the homes of the group of normal infants than in the homes of the infants with Down's syndrome, mainly in maternal responsivity. Older mothers restricted their infants with Down's syndrome more than younger mothers, but otherwise they did not seem to differ from each other. Infants with Down's syndrome without heart defects were provided with a better home environment than were infants with Down's syndrome with a heart defect. These results are discussed in the light of the biological limitations placed on the Down's syndrome infants and difficulties in parental adaptation to the diagnosis of Down's syndrome.