[Down Syndrome: Perception of Mothers and Fathers About Parenting a Child with Intellectual Disability].

Parents of children with intellectual disabilities report increased stress levels as well as experiences of personal growth and a positive impact on family relationship. 30 mothers and fathers of children with Down syndrome in school age complete questionnaires on the family impact of childhood disability, parental stress and child behavioral symptoms. Mothers as well as fathers report more positive than negative perceptions of the impact on the family. Negative impact is associated with the subjective level of stress. Mothers report more symptoms of stress than fathers. Behavioral problems of the child - as perceived by the parents - does not appear as a significant predictor of parenting stress in this sample. The results of a regression analysis suggest a significant contribution of paternal stress to the level of maternal stress. The results may help to understand family coping processes in the case of Down syndrome.