Sixty parents with retarded children were compared with a group of parents with intellectually average children on marital and family strengths and parental personality characteristics. Significant differences were found on two items of the Family Strengths Scale. Parents with retarded children were less critical of family members, and they had fewer persistent family problems. Coping resources were evaluated for the parents having retarded children. Spousal support, participation in a parents' group, and religious beliefs were the important resources used to cope with the challenges of rearing a disabled child.
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Abbott et al. (1986) studied this question.