The Family and Peers Project, headed by Frank Floyd, associate professor of psychology at Georgia State, seeks to better understand how families support exceptional children in developing and maintaining relationships with other children. Research has shown that positive peer relationships lead to better self-esteem and overall adjustment in later stages of development. The project is looking for families who have children with developmental disabilities, ages 7 to 10 years old, to participate in the study. Researchers are particularly interested in meeting with children who have Down syndrome because these children and their families may have special characteristics that can be important in assisting other families. Participants will meet twice with researchers to answer questionnaires and complete family interaction exercises.
Information obtained from family members is confidential.
The goal of the study, said Floyd, is to help families adapt to children with special needs. We're also trying to help future families understand how to help exceptional children.