Parenting with Intellectual Disability in Germany: Results of a New Nationwide Study

Background A nationwide questionnaire survey conducted in Germany in 2005 found 1584 families headed by persons with intellectual disability with 2164 adults becoming parents between 1990 and 2005. Materials and Methods In spite of a lower response rate and a more limited time frame compared with a previous study undertaken in the early 1990s [Pixa‐Kettner (1998), Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities , 11 , 355–364], there was an increase of more than 40% both in the number of people with intellectual disability becoming parents and number of children born. Results Thus, the new study confirms the trend from 1998 of a continually increasing number of parents with intellectual disability. The proportion of children living with at least one biological parent has increased from 40% to 57% since 1998. Younger children live more often with their parents than older children; however, half of children aged 12–15 years live with at least one biological parent. Conclusion Parents who live without professional support seem to have better chances of living with their children than parents who draw on professional support. These findings require further clarification.