Divorce in families of genetically handicapped/mentally retarded individuals

An investigation of the relationship of divorce rate as a measure of adaptive response to a diagnosis of genetic disability with associated mental retardation was conducted. Parents of a mentally retarded/genetically handicapped child who were clients of a genetic screening and counseling service were found to have a significantly lower divorce rate than the general population. There was no significant difference in the divorce rate of parents of genetically handicapped/mentally retarded children who were in a state residential treatment facility. Young parents having a first born male who was mentally retarded/genetically handicapped were at high risk for divorce. Mothers in their early thirties having a first born child who was genetically handicapped/mentally retarded were found to be at a higher risk for divorce than their age mates who had a later born genetically handicapped/mentally retarded child.