Progress in social-independent functioning of young people with Down's syndrome

The progress over a 5-year period in the social-independent functioning of 96 older children and teenagers with Down's syndrome was examined. A significant increase in scores on the Self-Sufficiency Index was found, with considerable individual variability. Path analysis was used to trace the factors associated with current levels of self-sufficiency and the degree of change over time. Earlier level of cognitive development was the strongest predictor of progress in self-sufficiency, but family factors were also important, particularly mothers' strategies for coping with child problems and mothers' levels of social support. For a small number of children with the lowest developmental level, family factors were less important as their self-sufficiency was more strongly limited by their severe disability. The results suggest that interventions aimed at changing maternal coping strategies and supplementing social support may benefit the development of social-independent functioning in young people with Down's syndrome.