The Impact of Disability on the Lives of Young Children: Analysis of GUS Data

Date: 18th October 2013
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

This research project was commissioned by the Scottish Government: Children and Families Analysis, with the objective of undertaking an in-depth analysis of data from the Growing Up in Scotland study (GUS) to examine the circumstances and outcomes of children living with a disability in Scotland.

The overall aim of this analysis was to explore the impact of disability on the child, their parents and the wider family unit.

Some of the largest differences in the analysis were found in relation to socio-economic characteristics. Children with a disability were significantly more likely than non-disabled children to be in lower income households, live in areas with higher deprivation, and have parents who were not working. It appears that many of the differences observed between disabled and non-disabled children are driven by these key socio-economic distinctions rather than the presence of a disability. Only the child's social, emotional and behavioural development was independently associated with disability.

The Growing up in Scotland report is titled The Impact of Disability on the Lives of Young Children which examines the circumstances and outcomes of children living with a disability in Scotland.

• Download the full report here.