The Impact of an Abnormal Child upon the Parents

Few differences could be found in the mental or physical health of the two groups of parents, but marital breakdown or severe marital disharmony was found in nine of the mongol families and in none of the controls.

Abstract

Thirty families with a newborn mongol baby were matched with thirty families with a normal baby. Both groups were followed for eighteen months to two years and interviewed six times. Few differences could be found in the mental or physical health of the two groups of parents, but marital breakdown or severe marital disharmony was found in nine of the mongol families and in none of the controls.