Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Barton, Michelle

Area of Concentration

Psychology

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the availability and perceived helpfulness of formal (e.g., clinical and psychosocial community) and informal (e.g., partners, family, friends, special person, online resources, local community) support systems for first-time mothers of children with Down syndrome across three points in time: after prenatal diagnosis, one month after birth, and 9 to 12 months after birth. A total of 2 mothers completed a survey exploring their experiences with different resources across the three times. It was predicted that informal support systems would be more helpful than formal support systems. The responses were then analyzed through descriptive analysis using case comparison. Results showed that informal support systems, specifically partners, were consistently perceived as the most helpful across all time points, while formal support was often available but considered less emotionally supportive. Future research should expand on these findings and examine a wider range of formal and informal support systems. Future studies should also conduct longitudinal studies across the three points in time to assess the support systems for mothers as they navigate the challenges associated with raising a child with Down syndrome. These studies may be extended beyond the first year after birth, as later developmental stages may have differing needs for maternal support.

Rights

The author has granted New College of Florida the nonexclusive right to archive, make accessible, and distribute for educational purposes this work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The copyright of this work remains with the author.

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