• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.10 no.8
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• pp.213-222
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• 2020

This research aimed to verify whether family competency reinforcement had a mediating role on the effect of family cohesion of the Down syndrome family upon the independent life of children with Down syndrome. For the research, 146 families belonged to Down Syndrome Parent Assembly were surveyed and the statistical program SPSS WIN 25.0 was utilized for the data analysis. To verify the mediating effect, Baron and Kenny's causal step strategy was performed. As a result of the study, the higher the family cohesion of the Down syndrome family was, the greater the level of independence of the child was, indicating that the family cohesion had a significant static effect on the independence life. In addition, it was confirmed that the family competency reinforcement played a mediating role between the family cohesion and the children's independent living. Therefore, the results of this research suggested that it might be used as a policy approach and supporting plan for the realization of support for independence of Down syndrome children.

• Proceedings of the Korea Contents Association Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.1076-1082
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• 2009

This study investigated caregivers' communication styles and children's emotional development. Emotion-laden puzzle tasks were used to elicit caregivers' communication styles while interacting with their children. Participants included children with Down syndrome (N=10) and typical children (N=15) and their caregivers. As expected, caregivers of children with Down syndrome (DS) used more behavior and attention directives with their children, and caregivers of typical children used more conversation-eliciting prompts with their children. Parents of children with Down syndrome also used a unique communication style in which they asked a question and immediately answered it themselves. Additionally, caregivers of typical children focused more on emotion concepts in their communications with their children and caregivers of DS used more cognitive concepts such as labeling colors and shapes. The results revealed that caregivers of children with Down syndrome usually tried to educate children by emphasizing cognitive concepts to compensate for their delayed development. Because the children are delayed in their emotional development, parents may need help in intervening on the area of emotional development.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.19-29
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore mothers' adjustments in raising children with Down syndrome and to develop a grounded theory about their adjustments. Method: Three mothers from each group of children in the ages below 7 years, 8-13 years, 14-19 years, and over 20 years participated in the study. Data were collected through an in-depth interview from twelve participants having a child with Down syndrome. Then it was analyzed simultaneously using the grounded theory method. Results: 'Adjustment of mother's expectation according to child's status' was emerged as a core category. The adjustment process was categorized into five stages: shocking, embracing, doing one's best with passion, lowering anticipation, and accepting another living. Conclusion: Being the mother of a child with Down syndrome is not considered to be a negative experience. There are positive experiences along with some more negative ones. Nurses working with families that include children with Down syndrome need to be aware of the obstacles the families will face and should advise necessary support.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.89-109
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• 2016

The purposes of this study were to analyze and understand the life of mothers rearing children with Down syndrome and to present basic data for overcoming the difficulties of those families. For these purposes, this study made use of the phenomenological analysis and approach with a qualitative research method. The subjects of this study are 4 mothers rearing children with Down syndrome who are beyond school age. The results were as follows. First, the reason why mothers with Down syndrome children went through psychological shock and horror was the social stigma due to the unusual appearance of children with Down syndrome. Second, the isolation with in the public education system was disclosed as a factor causing much sorrow and pain. Through this, we can recognize the importance of ensuring the equal right to receive education of children with Down syndrome. Third, the period which the mother experienced most shock and confusion was right after finding out about the disability that her child has. So, we can identify the importance of early intervention providing psychotherapy and rearing service to the parents. Fourth, the crucial factor that relieved pain and pressure from mothers was social support including family. Therefore, the social support system for mothers with Down syndrome children has to be developed and strengthened. Fifth, the crucial factor that made mother grow up during rearing experience was the reestablishment of cognition about the desired role of mothers. Through this, we can identify the importance of the mental transition process to independent thinking.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.501-512
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study, which was guided by the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment, and Adaptation, was twofold: (a) to explore family and parental adaptation and factors influencing family adaptation in Korean families of children with Down syndrome (DS) through a quantitative methodology and (b) to understand the life with a Korean child with DS through a qualitative method. Methods: A mixed-methods design was adopted. A total of 147 parents of children with DS completed a package of questionnaires, and 19 parents participated in the in-depth interviews. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using stepwise multiple regression and content analysis respectively. Results: According to the quantitative data, the overall family adaptation scores indicated average family functioning. Financial status was an important variable in understanding both family and parental adaptation. Family adaptation was best explained by family problem solving and coping communication, condition management ability, and family hardiness. Family strains and family hardiness were the family factors with the most influence on parental adaption. Qualitative data analysis showed that family life with a child with DS encompassed both positive and negative aspects and was expressed with 5 themes, 10 categories, and 16 sub-categories. Conclusion: Results of this study expand our limited knowledge and understanding concerning families of children with DS in Korea and can be used to develop effective interventions to improve the adaptation of family as a unit as well as parental adaptation.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.112-119
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• 2003

We studied the nutritional status of on mentally handicapped children living at home or in institutions since early teenage years are nutritionally important. The subjects of 7 to 12 year old mentally retarded children attenending a special education school in Seoul were surveyed with questionnaires as well as 2-day dietary recall records, with the help of persons of their care-giver when needed. Among the 64 children,54.7% are living in institutions and the rest of them are living at home. They were ranged from the trainable (64.1%) , the educable (26.6%) , and the non-trainable (9.4%) . Their average daily intake of energy intakes (%RDA) was 2,070.1 kcal (94.1%) , Ca 603.9 mg (75.5%) , Fe 11.1 mg (92.5%), Vt.A 507.5 RE (84.6%) , Vt. B$_2$.1g (88.2%), niacin 14.1 g (93.6%) and Vt. C 58.2 g (83.1%) . Their average intakes of these nutrients were significantly higher in subjects of institutions than at home. The nutrients consumed at a much higher level than the RDh of the normal children were Vt. B, (1.6 g,146.8%) and protein (75.3g, 136.9%) . The higher percentage of children at home were under consumed of several nutrients (< 75% RDA) than ones in institutions. When comparing the degree of handicap, energy and nutrient intakes except Vt. C were highest in educable children than trainable ones or Dawn's children. MAR of the diets of the subjects was 0.84. Children at home showed lower MAR as well as NAR of each nutrients, whereas children belonged to INQ < 1 were less at home. Handicapped children at home were snacking higher amount relative to their calorie intake and too frequently, that may lead to their poor nutrition. There was positive correlations between factors of nutrition and physical and dietary behaviors, but there were no correlations between factors of nutrition and health-related habits. Nutritional caring mentally handicapped children in institutions seemed to be more effectively managed.