Psychosocial Problems and Marital Adjustments of Families Caring for a Child with Intellectual Disability

Abstract

Caring for a child with intellectual disability can often be stressful and can influence the inter- and intra-familial relationships of all family members throughout the child’s lifetime. This descriptive and comparative study was conducted to identify psychosocial problems and marital adjustments in families having a child with intellectual disability. One hundred and fifty parents whose children with intellectual disability attended the East Anatolia Special Education and Rehabilitation Center (Group 1), 140 parents whose children with intellectual disability were registered with the Handicapped Education and Cooperation Association but were not receiving special education and rehabilitation support (Group 2), and 150 parents with healthy children (Group 3) were participated in the study. The Problem Identification form, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Scale, Social Support Scale were applied to parents. Marital adjustments (compatibility and cooperation) of spouses were assessed using the Birtchnell Parent Evaluation Scale. Most of the parents in Groups 1 and 2 reported that they had psychological, physical and economic problems and that they had concerns about their children’s care and future. Parents in Group 2 had higher depression and anxiety scores and lower social support scores than those in Groups 1 and 3. Anxiety and depression levels in parents increased as their marital adjustments decreased. In summary, the data emphasize the importance of continuing provision of comprehensive education and rehabilitation support to parents who have a child with an intellectual disability, especially those who are economically challenged.