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Able or unable: how do professionals determine the parenting capacity of mothers with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- AUNOS Marjorie, PACHECO Laura
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Public Child Welfare, 15(3), 2021, pp.357-383.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Within the context of the child welfare court, parenting capacity assessments are heavily relied upon to make decisions in the lives of families headed by parents with intellectual disabilities. However, little is known about the specific data that is included in these reports. The first aim of this study was to identify the data that underpins the conclusions and recommendations within parenting capacity reports. The second aim was to compare the sections of these reports from child welfare organizations and specialized intellectual disabilities service agencies. The results of this study indicate that child welfare reports usually conclude that the parent lacks the capacity to raise their children. Conversely, reports that were completed by specialized intellectual disabilities services identified that with appropriate support, parenting capacity was adequate. The results of this study have implications for assessment guidelines and system capacity initiatives to improve the quality of life of families headed by parents with ID. (Edited publisher abstract)
Mothering with intellectual disabilities: relationship between social support, health and well-being, parenting and child behaviour outcomes
- Authors:
- AUNOS Marjorie, FELDMAN Maurice, GOUPIL Georgette
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 21(4), July 2008, pp.320-330.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
There is a general agreement in the literature that no systematic correlation exists between parental intellectual disability per se and parenting performance. Yet, a few studies in the field of parents and parenting with intellectual disability have explored other potential determinants of parenting and child outcomes. This Canadian study examined the relationship between maternal social support, psychological well-being, parenting style, quality of the home environment and child problem behaviours. The sample included 32 mothers recruited through agencies that offer services exclusively to persons with intellectual disabilities and their families, and each mother's oldest child in the 2- to 13-year age range. In a series of semi-structured interviews, participating mothers completed a demographic and social support questionnaire, the SF-36 (health measure), the Parenting Stress Index, the HOME Inventory and the Child Behavior Checklist. Parenting style was assessed using the Canadian National Longitudinal Study on Children and Youth parenting questionnaire. On an average, the participating mothers reported poorer physical and mental health compared with population norms. However, a few reported clinically significant levels of parenting stress. Overall, the target children did not have significant problem behaviours, but these were more common in older children. Main findings include a significant correlation between parenting stress, parenting style and perceived child problem behaviours. Global assessment, including health status (mental and physical) and level of parenting stress, as well as everyday life and parenting skills is recommended as basis for designing individualized supports and services for mothers with intellectual disabilities.