ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to evaluate and to discuss the influence of the presence of siblings with typical development on the quality of life (QoL) of parents of adolescents with Down Syndrome (DS). It was a qualitative, cross-sectional, descriptive and exploratory study. The sample consisted of 25 families represented by the caregiver with children aged from 10 to 19 years old. These families were divided in two groups: a) a group of parents with single child with DS (GDSU) and b) group of parents with children with DS and other(s) with typical development (GDSI). Participants answered the semi structured interview whose script focused on topics such as family planning, the presence of the sibling in the family, relationships among the siblings (for GDSI), the future of the child with DS, and aspects related to the parents' feelings about the birth of the child and of the news on his coming to their family. Data were collected, individually, in a single meeting with approximately 30 minutes of duration. The results indicate that the presence of siblings with typical development can change the family structure and dynamics, but not in order to influence a better QoL, since the reports of both groups were very similar.
Keywords:
Down syndrome; quality of life; caregivers