ERIC Number: EJ1143269
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Jul
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1360-2322
EISSN: N/A
Out of School and into Distress: Families of Young Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Transition
McKenzie, Katherine; Ouellette-Kuntz, Hélène; Blinkhorn, Ashleigh; Démoré, Ashley
Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, v30 n4 p774-781 Jul 2017
Background: The transition period out of the educational system can be a source of stress for parents of young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as families lose the support and respite offered by schools. Materials and Methods: Using a before and after design nested within a 24-month follow-up study of parents seeking adult developmental services for their children, parents' perception of distress was measured using the Brief Family Distress Scale ("Journal of Child and Family Studies," 20, 2011, 521) and their perception of helpfulness of formal supports was assessed using the Family Support Scale ("Journal of Individual, Family, and Community Wellness," 1, 1984, 45). Results: Parents reported significantly higher levels of distress after their child transitioned out of school. Employed parents and parents of a child with an autism spectrum disorder are at increased risk for distress. Conclusions: Families fare worse once their adult children are no longer in school, although this is not associated with a reduction in the perception of the helpfulness of formal supports.
Descriptors: Young Adults, Developmental Disabilities, Transitional Programs, Intellectual Disability, Pretests Posttests, Developmental Programs, Family Programs, Help Seeking, Family Characteristics, Family Attitudes, Program Effectiveness, Stress Management, Stress Variables, Normalization (Disabilities)
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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