Psychological and Family Functioning among Handicapped College Students— a Case-Control Study
Resource
TAIWANESE JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY v.18 n.4 pp.207-15
Journal
TAIWANESE JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
Journal Volume
v.18
Journal Issue
n.4
Pages
207-15
Date Issued
2004
Date
2004
Author(s)
KAO, CHENG-TE
GAU, SUSAN SHUR-FEN
JU, LONG-SHYANG
CHU, CHI-TAN
WEN, CHEN-YUAN
Abstract
Objective: To compare the personality, psychopathology, and perceived family function and interaction of handicapped college students with those of their siblings and classmates . Methods: Subjects included 34 handicapped college students from a university in North Taiwan, 26 sibling and 68 classmate controls. A questionnaire designed for case and control subjects including several Chinese versions of scales covered domains of personality (Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire and Neuroticism subscale of the Maudsley Personality Inventory), psychopathology (Brief Symptom Rating Scale), parenting (Parental Bonding Inventory ), family functioning (Family Adhesion and Cohesion Evaluation Scale), and substance use. Parents reported information on family function and parenting style. Results: There was no significant difference among the three groups in personality, psychopathology and substance use. Sibling controls reported poorer family functioning and greater control by their parents than cases and classmate controls. These discrepancies between siblings and cases were less apparent based on parental reports. Cases and their siblings tended to accept the use of non-prescription medication. Conclusions: Findings from this study indicate that handicapped college students may represent a subgroup with good family support and stable mentality but their siblings may be at increased risk of psychosocial maladjustment. ( Full Text in Chinese)
Subjects
handicapped college students
sibling
parent-child relationship
family functioning