Children with functional motor limitations: the effects on family strengths.

Sixty children with functional motor limitations (age range from 15 months to 7 years 3 months) and their parents participated in the study. The objective was to explore the relationship of the severity of their restrictions on family strengths. Functional motor abilities of the children were assessed using Autti-Ramo's Scale. Cognitive functions were assessed using the Swedish standardized version of the Griffiths Scales of Mental Development. Family strengths were indexed using the Family Functioning Style Scale. The social-economical status, children's age and caretakers' age were taken into account. Overall, the results indicated that family strengths were rather strong. Only families rearing a child with severe participation limitations (functional motor limitations and cognitive difficulties) showed less strengths concerning family identity and internal coping relative to families with a child with milder participation limitations.