Social Profile of Mothers Raising Children With Disabilities: A Survey in Rural and Small-Town Russia

Abstract

Like any other family, families with disabled children have their share of joys and sorrows. However, social attitudes and prejudices towards disabilities often pose more significant challenges than the child’s condition itself. Discrimination against mothers raising disabled children comes to the fore in social interactions, where the child’s disability can unfairly define the mother, subjecting her to stigmatization. The ability of parents, particularly mothers, to mobilize resources is crucial for the family’s well-being, as they often bear the primary responsibility for child care. In Russia, one in three disabled children is raised by only one parent. Social services for families with disabled children are evolving in response to families’ needs, but there is currently no unified system to verify their effectiveness. Our study was conducted in 2024 in Vladimir and Nizhny Novgorod Oblasts and explored socio-psychological distress in families with disabled children. Through semi-structured interviews with 98 women whose children attend social rehabilitation institutions, we gained insights into mothers’ experiences, including their life satisfaction, access to state and social support, as well as daily stigmatization. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by women raising disabled children, highlighting areas of social disadvantage and stigma in provincial contexts.