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Environmental and temperament assessments of children with Down's syndrome

S M Pueschel1, B A Myers

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence.

Journal of Intellectual Disability Research : JIDR
|April 1, 1994
PubMed

Insights

This study explored family environments and child temperament in Down

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatrics
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Understanding the interplay between family dynamics and child temperament is crucial for supporting children with Down's syndrome (DS).
  • Previous research has highlighted the importance of environmental factors in child development, but specific insights into families with DS are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the family environment experienced by children with Down's syndrome.
  • To compare the temperament of children with Down's syndrome to that of their siblings.
  • To identify potential correlations between family environment characteristics and child temperament in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Parents (n=40) of children with Down's syndrome completed the Family Environmental Scale (FES).
  • Temperament was assessed using the Temperament Assessment Battery for Children (TABC) for children with DS and their siblings, and a teacher form was also utilized.
  • Comparative analysis was performed between children with DS and their same-sex siblings.

Main Results:

  • Families of children with DS reported high scores in cohesion, expressiveness, achievement, moral/religious emphasis, organization, and control on the FES.
  • Significant differences in temperament were found between children with DS and their siblings in adaptability, approach/withdrawal, and persistence.
  • Siblings scored higher in adaptability and persistence, while children with DS exhibited higher scores in approach/withdrawal.

Conclusions:

  • Families of children with Down's syndrome tend to be supportive, value ethical principles, and are organized.
  • Children with Down's syndrome display distinct temperament profiles compared to their siblings, particularly in their approach/withdrawal tendencies.
  • These findings underscore the importance of considering both family environment and individual temperament in interventions for children with Down's syndrome.

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