This paper examines the correlates and consequences of participation in professionally-organized parent groups for 150 mothers receiving early intervention services for their infants and toddlers with disabilities. Results revealed that participants in parent groups had higher educational levels than nonparticipants and reported larger increases in the size and helpfulness of their social support networks. Intensity of participation in parent groups, however, was associated with both positive and negative outcomes for maternal functioning and social support Implications of these findings for the use of parent groups in early intervention programs are discussed.
Affleck, G., Tennen, H., Rowe, J., Roscher, B., & Walker, L. (1989). Effects of formal support on mothers' adaptation to the hospital-to-home transition of high-risk infants: The benefits and costs of helping. Child Development, 60, 488–501.
3.
Association for Retarded Citizens (1983). Developing family support networks: Research report.Philadelphia, PA: Author.
4.
Barnard, K. (1978). Nursing Child Assessment Teaching Scales.Seattle, WA: University of Washington School of Nursing.
5.
Bayley, N. (1969). The Scales of Infant Development.New York: The Psychological Corporation.
6.
Byrne, E.A., & Cunningham, C.C. (1985). The effects of mentally handicapped children on families: A conceptual review. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 26, 847–864.
7.
Cobb, S. (1976). Social support as a moderator of life stress. Psychosomatic Medicine, 38, 300–314.
8.
Dunst, C.J., Jenkins, V., & Trivette, C.M. (1984). The Family Support Scale: Reliability and validity. Journal of Individual, Family, and Community Wellness, 1, 45–52.
9.
Dunst, C.J., & Trivette, C.M. (1990). Assessment of social support in early intervention programs. In S.J. Meisels & J.P. Shonkoff (Eds.), Handbook of early childhood intervention (pp. 326–349). New York: Cambridge University Press.
10.
Dunst, C.J., Trivette, C.M., & Cross, A.H. (1986). Mediating influences of social support: Personal, family and child outcomes. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 90, 403–417.
11.
Guralnick, M.J., & Bennett, F.C. (1987). A framework for early intervention. In M.J. Guralnick & F.C. Bennett (Eds.), The effectiveness of early intervention for at-risk and handicapped children (pp. 3–29). Orlando, FL: Academic Press.
12.
Hauser-Cram, P., & Krauss, M.W. (1991). Measuring change in children and families. Journal of Early Intervention, 15, 288–297.
13.
Hauser-Cram, P., Upshur, C.C., Krauss, M.W., & Shonkoff, J.P. (1988). Implications of P.L. 99-457 for early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities. Social Policy Report of the Society for Research on Child Development, 3, 1–16.
14.
Healy, A., Keesee, P.D., & Smith, B.S. (1985). Early services for children with special needs: Transactions for family support.Iowa City, IO: University Hospital School.
15.
House, J.S., Landis, K.R., & Umberson, D. (1988). Social relationships and health. Science, 241, 540–545.
16.
Intagliata, J., & Doyle, N. (1984). Enhancing social support for parents of developmentally disabled children: Training in interpersonal problem solving skills. Mental Retardation, 22, 4–11.
17.
Kazak, A.E., & Marvin, R.S. (1984). Differences, difficulties and adaptations: Stress and social networks in families with a handicapped child. Family Relations, 33, 67–77.
18.
Krauss, M.W. (1990, May). Stability and change in family environments.Paper presented at the 114th Annual Meeting of the American Association on Mental Retardation, Atlanta, GA.
19.
Minde, K., Shosenberg, N., Marton, P., Thompson, J., Ripley, J., & Burns, S. (1980). Self-help groups in a premature nursery: A controlled evaluation. Pediatrics, 96, 933–940.
20.
Moran, M.A. (1985). Families in early intervention: Effects of program variables. Zero to Three, 5, 11–14.
21.
Ramey, C. T., Sparling, J.J., Bryant, D.M., & Wasik, B.H. (1982). Primary prevention of developmental retardation during infancy. In H.A. Moss, R. Hess, & C. Swift (Eds.), Early intervention programs for infants, (pp. 61–84). New York: Haworth Press.
22.
Shapiro, J. (1989). Stress, depression, and support group participation in mothers of developmentally delayed children. Family Relations, 38, 169–173.
23.
Shonkoff, J.P., Hauser-Cram, P., Krauss, M.W., & Upshur, C.C. (1990). The early intervention collaborative study: Final report of phase one. University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcester, MA.: Author.
24.
Shonkoff, J.P., Hauser-Cram, P., Krauss, M.W., & Upshur, C.C. (1992). Development of infants with disabilities and their families: Implications for theory and service delivery.Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 57 (6, Serial No. 230).
25.
Shonkoff, J.P., & Meisels, S.J. (1990). Early childhood intervention: The evolution of a concept. In S.J. Meisels & J.P. Shonkoff (Eds.), Handbook of early childhood intervention, (pp. 3–31). New York: Cambridge University Press.
26.
Simeonsson, R.J., & Bailey, D.B. (1990). Family dimensions in early intervention. In S.J. Meisels & J.P. Shonkoff (Eds.), Handbook of early childhood intervention (pp. 428–444). New York: Cambridge University Press.
27.
Slaughter, D. T. (1983). Early intervention and its effects on maternal and child development. Monographs of the society for research in child development, 48, Serial No. 202.
28.
Sparrow, S., Balla, D., & Cicchetti, D. (1984). Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales: Expanded form manual.Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.
29.
Stein, R. & Reisman, C. (1980). The development of an Impact-on-Family Scale: Preliminary findings. Medical Care, 18, 465–472.
30.
Upshur, C.C. (1991). Mothers' and fathers' ratings of the benefits of early intervention services. Journal of Early Intervention, 15, 345–357.
31.
Vadasy, P.F., Fewell, R.R., Greenberg, M. T., Dermond, N.L., & Meyer, D.J. (1986). Follow-up evaluation of the effects of involvement in the fathers program. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 6, 16–31.
32.
Vadasy, P.F., Fewell, R.R., Meyer, D.J. & Greenberg, M. T. (1985). Supporting fathers of handicapped young children: Preliminary findings of program effects. Analysis and Intervention in Developmental Disabilities, 5, 125–137.
33.
Wandersman, L.P. (1987). Parent-infant support groups: Matching programs to needs and strengths of families. In C.F.Z. Boukydis (Ed.), Research on support for parents and infants in the postnatal period. (pp. 139–160). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
34.
Zigler, E., & Weiss, H. (1985). Family support systems: An ecological approach to child development. In R. Rappoport (Ed.), Children, youth and families (pp. 166–205). New York: Cambridge University Press.
