Abstract It is a long term burden for family with children of developmental delay. Therefore, parents in this situation have to adapt themselves to face long-term persistent stress. The aim of this study is to investigate how parents with children of developmental delay adapt themselves, how they react psychologically, and how they respond. Furthermore, we would analyze the factors which affect psychological adaptation. The methods of this qualitative research are interviewing parents under the guide of semi- structure and recording all contents of interviewing. We interview 3 couples totally. This study shows that the adaptation of mental decision process of parents caring children of developmental delay includes diagnosis stage, early treatment stage, and closure stage. The three stages are time-dependent and interacting with each other, and include cognition, emotion, and behavior, which are mental adaptation reactions of parents. The factors which affect psychological adaptation are influenced by personal perception and social support. Moreover, adaptation reactions of parents are deeply influenced by personal perception. Social support also helps parents mental adaptation process. Because mothers are the major care providers, they feel more than fathers, and have more influence on illness and family than fathers. Children of developmental delay also have an influence on marriage, child-parent relationship, economy, and social life. Spouses are the major support of mothers. Most parents raise children similarly and provide the best care and environment. In conclusion, the condition of children and the responsibility of parents are meaning to parents will affect the attitude of parents to take positive or negative reactions. Parents with positive attitude to face stress will have a good result, while parents with negative attitude will result in worsened illness or collapse of family. Therefore, the results will offer the others parents with children of developmental delay the experience of psychological adaptation and attract the attention of the government to improve the present situation. Keyword Developmental delay Diagnosis stage Closure stage Long term care Early intervention stage Mental process
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414 E 2 A A A B 34 C B B C 133
D D 415 E 3 I A. A. A. B. B. B. C. F () 1. 134
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D (3) A 141
2. 1 A B C 2 A 142
B 3 A B 143
416 F 1 (1) (1) (1) (2) (2) (2) (3) (1) (2) (1) (1) (2) (2) (1) (3) (1) (2) (4) (2) 417 F 2 A B 37 A A B 144
C B C D D 418 F 3 A A A B B B C 145
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3 1 147
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3 A B 2 3 4-19 1 1 1 1 A 2 3 2 2 152
153 3 4 3 4 B 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 C 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 1 2 3 D 1 1 2 1 2
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156 3 32 3 4 B 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 3 C 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 3 D E
157 F 1 2 1 2 1 2
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A A A B 34 C B B C D D A A A B 37 159
C B B C D D 160
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A A A B B B C A A A B B B C 162
Doberman, 1998, 1998, 1996, 1998.Cadman,Rosenbaum, Boyle & Oxford, 1991Chen, 1999Steinglass, 1998Tiedje & Darling-Fisher, 1996 Fisher,2001 partnership (1998) (1998) 79.7% 163
2000 (Heiman, 2002) 164
2002Wallander etal, 1989 1998 Austin1, 990Canam, 1993 Eakes, 1995Tanner, Dechert & Friedan, 1998Chen, 1993Eakes, 1995 Magni, Messina, De Leo, Mosconi, & Carli, 1983Mintzer etal, 1985Stenens, 1994 1996Beckman, 1991Conger, Lorenz, Elder, Simon & Ge, 1993 165
Silver, Bauman & Ireys(1995) Tymchuk et al. (2000) 166
(1998). 167
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D 1. 2. 3. A 1. 2. 3. B 1. Stallard, Lewis & Lenton, 1997Whyte, 1994 1. A 172
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