Mentally retarded persons as parents: prevalence and the situation of their children

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W T Mørch1, J Skår, A B Andersgård

  • 1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tromsø, Norway.

Scandinavian Journal of Psychology
|February 4, 1998
PubMed

Insights

This study surveyed children of mentally retarded parents in Norway, finding significant needs. Many children experienced learning difficulties and care failures, highlighting a critical public health concern.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Parental intellectual disability presents unique challenges for child development and well-being.
  • Understanding the scope of this issue is crucial for targeted support services.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the number of children born to parents with intellectual disabilities in Norway.
  • To assess the needs and functional abilities of these children.

Main Methods:

  • Nation-wide study utilizing structured questionnaires distributed to all Norwegian municipalities.
  • Follow-up telephone interviews conducted with public health nurses based on questionnaire data.

Main Results:

  • Identified 126 children with mentally retarded parents, with an annual incidence of 27 and a prevalence of approximately 430 children under 16.
  • Approximately 43% of these children exhibited learning difficulties, and 40% suffered from failures of care.
  • Children with learning problems showed significant deficits in motor, language, sensory, and psychosocial development (25%-68%).

Conclusions:

  • Children of parents with intellectual disabilities are at elevated risk for developmental challenges and require specialized interventions.
  • Public health strategies must address the needs of this vulnerable population to mitigate long-term negative outcomes.

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