Mothers' and Fathers' Perceptions of Family Functioning in Families Having Children With Disabilities

The present research investigated the relationship between mothers' and fathers' perceptions of family functioning in a sample of parents having children with disabilities using the Family Support Scale, the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale, and the Comprehensive Evaluation of Family Functioning. Analyses were conducted at the subscale and item level using a multivariate framework. Results support previous research indicating that mothers and fathers have different perceptions of family functioning, identify different stressors, and report different sources of support as helpful. Additionally, internal consistency reliability analyses for mothers and fathers suggests that some subscales should be interpreted with caution for fathers. Implications for early intervention services and assessment with this population are discussed.