Effects of children's disabilities on parental time use

An interview technique was used to collect data on the amount of time used in primary physical care of family members and in self-care of the mother. The amount of time that the mother was relieved of child care was also recorded, as was the frequency that families participated in certain activities. Children were first classified functionally according to their scores on the Vineland Scales of Social Maturity. The sample of 59 Delaware families interviewed was a subsample of an ongoing project currently being carried out at the University of Delaware. Analysis of the data included the analysis of variance and computation of Pearson's product-moment correlation and the chi-square test of independence. Although no difference was found between families with and without a disabled child as a member, families with a disabled child participated in fewer family activities than did families without a disabled child. Furthermore, significant correlations were found between the child's score on the Vineland Scales of Social Maturity and the amount of time the mother had for her self-care. Significant differences were found in the amount of personal care time available to the primary care giver and the disability classification of the child.