Income and Occupation as Correlates of Well-Being of Caregivers of Children with Disabilities in South-Western Nigeria

Abstract

Several research studies have sought to look into the well-being of caregivers, however, little has been done on determinants of well-being among caregivers of physically challenged children in south-western Nigeria. This paper aims at investigating the impact of income and occupation on the well-being of informal caregivers of physically challenged children. However, data for this paper is from a larger study on the determinants of well-being of informal caregivers in southwest of Nigeria. Quantitative research method was used to explore the impact of income and occupation on the well-being of informal caregivers. Eight hundred and twelve informal caregivers were selected through their disabled children from different special schools in three states in western Nigeria. Data were collected using caregivers’ socio-economic status scale (urban) by Kuppuswamy (1962) and Ryff’s (1989) psychological well-being scale to measure caregiver’s well-being. Findings revealed that both income and occupational status predict well- being of informal caregivers of children with disability. It was therefore, recommended that caregivers’ finance should be boosted by improving on the existing welfare package for children with disability and introduction of disability grant by governments in Nigeria to assist caregivers in their bid to cope with financial burden of caregiving role. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n2p111