MATERNAL COPING STRATEGIES AND BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS OF CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME

Abstract

Background: Coping strategies are the behaviours, thoughts, and emotions that are used to adjust to the stressful situation and changes that occur in the life. Mothers’ coping can affect the behavioural problems of children with Down syndrome. The present study examined the relationship between maternal coping strategies and behavioural problems of children with Down syndrome. Method: The sample comprised of 54 mothers with age range 25–52 years, and 54 children with age range 6–18 years. This was a correlational research study using purposive sampling strategy from different government and private special education institutes of Lahore. Mothers responded to two instruments, the Cope Inventory and Child Behavioural Checklist. Children responded to Colour Progressive Matrices, and it was used to assess their ability to recognize and think logically. Results: The results revealed significant negative association of emotion-focused coping and children’s behavioural problem, while significant positive association of recently developed coping and children behavioural problem. Additionally, recently developed coping, family size, and mothers’ education were the significant predictors of behavioural problems of the children. However, results showed non-significant gender differences of behavioural problems. Conclusion: Emotion-focused coping and recently developed coping are connected with behavioural problems of children. Recently developed coping, family size, and mothers’ education are the significant predictors of children’s behavioural problems. Behavioural problems are not affected by gender.

Pak J Physiol 2022;18(4):22–6