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Help-seeking behaviour of parents of children with Down syndrome
Author
Lee, Moses Yong King
Supervisor
Lim, Kam Ming
Abstract
The present study examined the help-seeking behaviour of parents of children with Down syndrome (N= 45) within the Singapore context. Results showed that the parents in general have a positive attitude towards seeking help, such that they are less sensitive to what others would think, and are more open to seek help. Results did not support the hypotheses that mothers of children with Down syndrome have more positive help-seeking attitudes, as well as parents of children with Down syndrome from higher income group have more positive help-seeking attitudes, as compared to those from low income group. Results show that parents of children with Down syndrome have higher intentions to seek informal sources of help, as compared to formal sources. Mothers of children with Down syndrome seek and use help more than fathers, and that parents of children with Down syndrome from higher income group tend to seek and use help more than those from the lower income group. Results also show that parents of children with Down syndrome who sought actual help tend to seek help more from informal sources, as compared to formal sources. The hypothesized central barriers of help-seeking which include family as sufficient to help, and peers as sufficient was supported, though the hypothesized central barrier of selfsufficiency was not supported. Implications of the findings, as well as limitations and future research, were discussed.
Date Issued
2008
Call Number
HM1141 Lee
Date Submitted
2008