No abstract

This article examines the nature and correlates of stress in mothers of children with Down syndrome. In the first part of our study, we compared 27 mothers of children with Down syndrome with 15 mothers of children with heterogeneous causes of learning difficulty. Using Abidin's (1995) Parenting Stress Index (PSI), mothers in the Down syndrome group reported lower total child‐related stress levels, particularly concerning the degree to which the mother considers the child acceptable and reinforcing. In the second part, we identified predictors of stress in mothers of children and adolescents with Down syndrome (N = 37). Children's behaviour problems related to higher levels of overall and specific domains of child‐related stress, and children who were reported as being more cheerful and outgoing had parents who judged their offspring as more acceptable and reinforcing. Mothers also rated their children as less reinforcing when offspring were older.

In this two-part study, we assessed musical involvements in two samples of persons with Williams syndrome compared to others with mental retardation and also related musicality to anxiety and fears in Study 2. Relative to others with mental retardation, those with Williams syndrome were more likely to take music lessons, play an instrument, and have higher ratings of musical skills. In the Williams syndrome groups only, fewer externalizing symptoms were associated with listening to music, whereas less anxiety and fewer fears were associated with the frequency, duration, and skill in producing music as well as emotional responses to negatively toned music. Implications are discussed for future research on musical processing, musical interventions, and well-being in Williams syndrome and other groups.

Because it is unclear whether people with Williams syndrome produce drawings that are delayed or deviant, we examined these two possibilities in Draw a Person and figure copying tasks (VMI) in 28 persons with Williams syndrome, 28 with mixed etiologies, and 28 with Down syndrome. All human figures could be classified into discrete stages of drawing development, and in all groups, drawing tasks were significantly correlated with MA. Human figures from participants with Williams syndrome were no more deviant than their counterparts, nor did they show "local-global" differences. Draw a Person scores exceeded VMI scores in the Williams syndrome group, whereas the Down syndrome group showed relative strengths on both drawing tasks, and the mixed group had no profile. Developmental and phenotypic implications of findings are discussed.