Expectations of the parenting experience and willingness to consider selective termination for Down Syndrome

Abstract

This study examines the dominant normative perceptions of parenting a child with Down Syndrome, and the relationship of these perceptions to willingness to consider selective termination subsequent to a foetal diagnosis of Down Syndrome. Within a community sample (N = 355), the perceptions of parenting a child with Down Syndrome were less positive than those of parenting either a child with muscular dystrophy or a child with no disability, especially in terms of the anticipated rewards (personal enrichment and family continuity) associated with the parenting experience. Further, the expectation of less personal enrichment as a result of parenting a child with Down Syndrome emerged as a significant predictor of willingness to abort a diagnosed foetus, although the expectation of enhanced parental costs did not, suggesting that it is the perception of fewer rewards associated with parenting a child with Down Syndrome that are salient in decisions regarding selective abortion. The role of negative stereotypes and implications for interventions are discussed.

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council grant (no. 410‐2002‐0901).

Notes

1. Information taken from the Down Syndrome Information Network website: http://www.down‐syndrome.info/topics/keyfacts.htm

2. Information taken from the Muscular Dystrophy Canada website: http://www.muscle.ca

3. Compared to the general population, the present sample contains an over‐representation of highly educated individuals. As it is possible that highly educated individuals might differ from those with less education in their attitudes towards specific disabilities, especially those involving intellectual deficits and their perceptions of parenting a child with such disabilities, the mean responses on the main research variables (SADP, POPI sub‐scales, and likelihood of selective abortion) were compared across educational level categories (high school, college/technical, university undergraduate degree, graduate degree) within each disability group using one‐way analysis of variance. Within the Down Syndrome group there were no significant differences across the educational levels for any of the variables. Within the muscular dystrophy group, there was only one significant difference found. Specifically education level was found to be related to SADP scores, F(3, 94) = 3.93, p = 0.001. Individuals with college/technical level education evidenced significantly less positive attitudes towards persons with disabilities (M = 103.4) than any of the other three educational levels which did not differ from each other (high school M = 109.4, undergraduate M = 111.5, graduate M = 117.5), p = 0.007. Based on these results, education level is not related to the perceptions of parenting either a child with Down Syndrome or muscular dystrophy and as such is not exerting a biasing influence on the study.