Effects of children with Down syndrome on parents' activities

Effects of children with Down syndrome on parents' daily activities were investigated. Data on the allocation of time to daily activities were obtained from time diaries provided by two samples of parents with at least one child under age 17. Parents in one sample had a child with Down syndrome and parents in the other sample did not. Comparison of time allocations by sample indicated that parents of children with Down syndrome differed substantially from other parents in their patterns of time use. Both parents of a child with Down syndrome devoted more time to child care and spent less time in social activities. Mothers of children with Down syndrome allocated less time to paid employment.