When inquiring about stressors placed on parents when coping with having a child with a disability, I found the issue of divorce to be a subject of debate. There is conflicting research about whether marriages are more likely to end in divorce due to the increased stress of having a child with a disability. I looked at numerous websites and articles and could not find a definitive answer. Most research indicated that the divorce rate is higher for couples parenting a child with a disability but the rate varied depending on the severity of and type of disability. Some possible increased strains on the marriage include blame, guilt, decreased time spent together in and out of the home, a breakdown in communication, differing coping strategies, opinions, and expectations, and the sharing of responsibilities. I wonder if the added stress may also exacerbate underlying issues that already existed in the marriage.
In contrast to studies about the increase of divorce and stress, many studies also highlighted that parenting a child with a disability created a closer bond between parents. Parents felt supported by their spouse and believed there to be a mutual understanding shared between them. In an article, found at http://www.disaboom.com/children-with-disabilities/for-better-or-worse-and-kids-with-disabilities, Karen Putz discusses strategies to keeping a marriage strong developed by Dr. Laura Marshak co-author of Married with Special-Needs Children. Marshak believes that parents have to make a decision to protect their marriage. In her book she offers advice to parents about how to work on marital issues while juggling the demands of
raising a child with a developmental disability, serious medical condition, or
mental illness.
I am referencing several of the websites and articles I found while inquiring into this topic. They provide information in regards to research studies conducted, where couples can find support, and helpful advice to maintaining a healthy marriage.
http://parent2parentnetwork.org/
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2010/05/childs_autism_doesnt_raise_par.html
http://drgrcevich.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/special-needs-and-divorce-what-does-the-data-say/
http://blogs.wsj.com/juggle/2008/11/25/does-having-a-special-needs-child-strain-marriage/
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2010/08/06/autism-parents-divorce/9680/
I also wonder if regular parenting sites or magazines address this issue. Have you checked them out?
ReplyDeleteDr. Carr – When I was inquiring into this issue, the sites that I found were not considered to be regular parenting sites or magazines. After reading your comment I decided to look a little more. Most of the sites and articles I found addressed the effects of divorce on children and adults, how to move on, advice, and prevention. They did not address my specific inquiry. I personally have read parenting magazines that addressed divorce and parenting a child with a disability but it was more of a case study or personal story. Pediatrics: Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics had two articles. Both were research studies investigating divorce and children with a specific type of disability. Unfortunately, I could only view the abstract file. There was a fee to view the articles in their entirety.
Deletehttp://pediatrics.aappublications.org/search?fulltext=divorce&submit=yes&x=0&y=0