Family Distress High With Suspected Fetal Alcohol Effects
Wilton,
G. Raising a child with fetal alcohol
syndrome: Effects on family functioning. Dissertation Abstracts International,
63(11):4110, 2003. (169482)
This study examined families
raising a child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) in terms of family distress
and parental negative emotion, and the functioning of families raising a child
with FAS or related conditions. Participants included 105 parents, 85 mothers
and 20 fathers, raising a child who was diagnosed with any of the fetal alcohol
related conditions or who was suspected of having any of these conditions.
Results from mothers indicated that there is a difference between the diagnostic
categories of FAS, fetal alcohol effects (FAE) and possible fetal alcohol
syndrome/effects (FAS/E) in measures of family distress and parental negative
emotion. Families raising a child with FAS experienced significantly less family
distress than those raising a child with FAE or possible FAS/E. Similarly,
families raising a child with either FAS or FAE experienced significantly less
parental negative emotion than families raising a child with possible FAS/E. In
addition, there was a significant relationship between the family characteristic
variable hardiness and both dependent variables family distress and parental
negative emotion. As hardiness increased, both family distress and parental
negative emotion decreased in mothers. Finally, the variables (number of parents
in the home, support level, and family hardiness) did moderate the association
between a child's diagnosis and parental negative emotion. Findings suggest that
an appropriate diagnosis can positively affect family functioning, and that a
particular family strength (e.g., hardiness) can also influence family
functioning. Interventions should identify individuals affected by prenatal
alcohol exposure and strengthen families to minimize ineffective coping.