Abstract
Statement of Problem
Studies linking child and family characteristics of families of handicapped children to marital instability and divorce appear occasionally In the literature. A common underlying assumption In these studies is that divorce Is an outcome of the family’s attempts to cope with stress associated with these characteristics. While many studies of families of handicapped children represent the cumulative efforts of investigators working in this field for a number of years, there is concern that some studies repeat both the findings and flaws of earlier ones. To the extent that development, implementation and evaluation of services for families of handicapped children rely on prior research for direction, there is a need for studies that either validate or challenge common research assumptions. This study addresses that need by examining the assumption that families of children sharing several identified characteristics are more likely to divorce than families of children who lack these characteristics.
Sources of Data
Parents of 87 severely handicapped children living in a Northern California skilled nursing facility were divided Into two groups on the basis of marital status. Characteristics associated with marital instability and divorce in the literature on effects of handicapped children on the family were noted tor each family. These included: 1) first born children; 2) male children; 3) children who are frequently acutely ill; 4) children with gross physical malformations; and 5) family socio-economic status in the "middle" range. The two groups were then compared using the identified child and family characteristics as Independent variables and marital status as the dependent variable.
Conclusions Reached
Though none of the variables were found to be significantly related to subsequent divorce In these families, several trends were noted In the sampled families. Divorce occurred more frequently In families of: 1) first born children; 2) children who were frequently acutely III; and 3) in families of either high or low socio-economic status. Families that remained married tended more often to be those of severely malformed children and of male children. These observations should be of Interest social workers and other professionals involved In the development, implementation and evaluation of services to families of handicapped children. It is suggested that future research employ finer gradations of family socio-economic status than were used in this study, and that family interactional styles be included as a variable as well.