Support For Mothers Of Children Research Articles

A qualitative analysis of patient and caregiver experiences with myelomeningocele through online discussion boards.

Patients and caregivers impacted by myelomeningocele (MMC) use online discussion board forums to create community and share information and concerns about this complex medical condition. We aim to identify the primary concerns expressed on these forums with the goal of understanding gaps in care that may merit investment of resources to improve care received by this population. Anonymous posts from online MMC discussion boards were compiled using internet search engines. Posts were then analyzed using an adaptation of the Grounded Theory Method, a three-step system involving open, axial, and selective coding of the data by two independent researchers to identify common themes. Analysis of 400 posts written primarily by parents (n = 342, 85.5%) and patients (n = 45, 11.25%) yielded three overarching themes: questions surrounding quality of life, a lack of support for mothers of children with MMC, and confusion with a complex healthcare system. Many posts revealed concerns about management and well-being with MMC, including posts discussing symptoms and related conditions (n = 299, 75.75%), treatments (n = 259, 65.75%), and emotional aspects of MMC (n = 146, 36.5%). Additionally, families, especially mothers, felt a lack of support in their roles as caregivers. Finally, in 118 posts (29.5%), patients and families expressed frustration with navigating a complex healthcare system and finding specialists whose opinions they trusted. MMC is a complex medical condition that impacts patients and families in unique ways. Analysis of online discussion board posts identified key themes to be addressed in order to improve the healthcare experiences of those impacted by MMC.

The health of mothers caring for a child with a disability: a longitudinal study

BackgroundRaising a child with disabilities requires a significant parental investment that is greater than that required by typically developing children. Previous studies have shown that parents caring for a child with a disability experience a range of health problems, particularly the mothers. However, few of these studies have controlled for maternal health prior to birth.MethodsThis study used a sample from the Norwegian administrative register that comprised all children born between 2009 and 2015. We followed the mothers and their children for 11 years, between 2009 and 2019. The outcome variable was the mothers’ physical and mental health, which was assessed using specific ICD-10 diagnoses recorded in the Norwegian Patient Register (NPR). The data included information on the mothers’ health before and after the birth of their first child, enabling us to control for maternal health prior to birth in our analysis, in addition to socio-demographic characteristics. The analyses of maternal health were performed using multiple logistic regression, and the results are presented on both a relative scale (odds ratio [OR]) and an absolute scale (average marginal effect [AME]), both with 95% confidence intervals.ResultsMothers caring for a child with a disability have higher odds of having a diagnosis of a musculoskeletal disorder, depression, anxiety, sleeping disorder or migraines than mothers of children without a disability. The differences between the two groups of mothers decrease after adjusting for the characteristics of the children, mothers and families, but remain significant for musculoskeletal disorder, depression, anxiety and sleeping disorder, although the absolute differences are modest.ConclusionThe findings suggest that mothers caring for a child with a disability are more likely to have health problems than mothers of children without a disability after controlling for maternal health prior to birth. Providing more support for mothers of children with a disability might help to improve their health.

Depression and Social Support in Mothers of Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Longitudinal Study

Depression and Social Support in Mothers of Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Longitudinal Study

‘I asked myself why I was having this difficult child’: Care Burden Experiences of Black African Mothers Raising A Child with Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Introduction: There is increasing recognition that raising a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is stressful and challenging, particularly for mothers in resource-constrained countries. The aim of this study was to learn more about the experiences of black African mothers raising children with ASD and to gain a better understanding of the care burden. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine purposively recruited mothers of children with ASD and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: The findings revealed that caring for children with ASD puts a tremendous psychological, emotional, and financial strain on mothers. Mothers commonly faced social judgment and stigma, which manifested as internalized self-blame, isolation, and social exclusion for both themselves and their children. Conclusion: The findings highlight the critical need to increase psychosocial support for mothers of children with ASD who live in resource-constrained countries.

Strategies for coping with stress in mothers of children with atopic dermatitis - a cross-sectional study.

Our previous study showed that the severity of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children significantly correlates with the quality of life and perceived stress in their mothers. To compare strategies for coping with stress in mothers of children with and without AD, as well as to investigate the relationship between coping strategies of mothers of affected children and AD variables, stress intensity, and quality of life. The study included 88 mothers of children with AD and 57 mothers of children without AD as controls. The severity of skin lesions in children with AD was assessed by the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index, and skin itch was evaluated by the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). All mothers completed the sociodemographic questionnaire (SD), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (COPE) scale. Additionally, mothers of children with AD filled out the Family Dermatology Life Quality Index (FDLQI). There were no statistically significant differences in coping strategies between the groups. However, there were significant correlations between the selected coping strategies and AD severity, perceived stress of mothers, and quality of life of the entire family of affected children. Although mothers of children with AD experience higher levels of stress compared with mothers of children without AD, the disease does not change coping strategies. Psychological support for mothers of children with AD should be oriented toward strengthening cognitive coping strategies.

Parenting stress and social support in mothers of children with disability in Ardabil, 2020

A disabled child causes parenting stress, especially for the mother. Social support is effective to reduce parenting stress. This study determined the relationship between parenting stress and social support in mothers covered by Ardabil Welfare Organization. This is a descriptive-correlational study conducted by census method on 154 mothers. Data collection tools included demographic and social characteristics questionnaire, Parenting Stress Questionnaire (P.S.I-SF), and Sarason Social Support

Emotional availability in the mother-child relationship for families of young children with autism spectrum disorder in Australia: A cross-sectional survey

BackgroundIn families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) the mother-child relationship can be affected by many factors; however, the impacts of maternal broad autism phenotype (BAP) and attachment styles are unknown. This study investigated predictors of emotional availability in the mother-child relationship in families of children with ASD. MethodsMothers (N = 231) of children with ASD living in Australia completed questionnaires assessing emotional availability in the parent-child relationship (mutual attunement, child involvement, affect quality) and mothers’ BAP, mental health, adult attachment style and parenting experiences. Hierarchical multiple regressions and a mediation analysis were conducted. ResultsParent-reported positive parenting experiences was the greatest predictor of mutual attunement, child involvement and affect quality in the parent-child relationship. Maternal stress and anxiety predicted poorer mutual attunement, stress and depressive symptoms predicted less child involvement and anxiety predicted worse affect quality. Negative parenting experiences, maternal anxiety and stress mediated the relationship between BAP and mutual attunement. ConclusionInterventions combining mental health and parenting support for mothers of children with ASD to bolster emotional availability within the mother-child relationship may be warranted.

Impact of husband’s social support for mothers of children with autism in India

Aim of the study: The main aim of the study is to investigate husband’s social support for mother of children with autism. Method: Interview was conducted for 20 mother participants who were married and having children with autism aged between 4-15 years. Data collected was analyzed by using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach. Results: The data analysis was divided in five domains. First, the impact on marriage relationship; second, husband’s role in parenting children with autism; third, mother’s perception regarding husband’s social support; fourth, indicated factors influencing husband social supports; and fifth the result explored the effect of husband’s social support for mother. The discussion and limitations of the present study has been considered. Application: The findings highlight the areas for rehabilitation professionals who should also focus on the relationship pf parents for better improvement of the child and family.

Experiences and barriers to accessing mental health support in mothers of children with a disability.

Despite evidence for high levels of mental health problems in mothers of children with a disability and the potential impact on caring for their child, very little is known about mothers' experience in accessing professional mental health support. This study aimed to explore mothers' views and experience on seeking help for their mental health. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 mothers of children with a disability. Thematic analysis was completed. Mothers experienced significant barriers when accesing support at the personal, professional and system level. Personal barriers included the need for competency and stigma about mental illness: professional barriers included the lack of discussions about mental health and interpersonal factors that hindered disclosure. System barriers included feeling invisible to the health services, paediatric care focusing on the child rather than the family and limitations to the type of mental health support available. Mothers perceive substantial barriers in accessing support for their mental health. It is important that strategies are designed so the importance of mentally healthy mothers is understood and to normalize a need for assistance when you are the mother of a child with additional support needs. Strategies are also needed to encourage mothers to seek help and to assist professionals having discussions about maternal wellbeing. Improvements are also required in the accessibility of service supports.

The Effect of Time Perspective Program on the Perceived Social Support in Mothers of Children with Hearing Impairment

The Effect of Time Perspective Program on the Perceived Social Support in Mothers of Children with Hearing Impairment

استخدام نموذج الحیاة فی خدمة الجماعة لدعم المساندة الاجتماعیة لأمهات الأطفال مزدوجی الإعاقة دراسة تجریبیة مطبقة على أمهات الأطفال مزدوجی الإعاقة بمرکز رسالة لذوی الاحتیاجات الخاصة

ملخص البحث: هدفت الدراسة الحالية إلى التحقق من صحة الفرض الرئيسي ومؤداه توجد علاقة ذات دلالة إحصائية بين استخدام نموذج الحياة في خدمة الجماعة ودعم المساندة الاجتماعية لأمهات الأطفال مزدوجي الإعاقة وما يتبعه من فروض فرعية، تنتمي هذه الدراسة إلى الدراسات التجريبية، توصلت الدراسة صحة الفرض الرئيسي وفروضه الفرعية وظهر ذلک من خلال تغير استجابات الجماعة التجريبية بعد التدخل المهني نحو المساندة المعلوماتية، الإجرائية، الانفعالية الکلمات المفتاحية: نموذج الحياة- المساندة الاجتماعية- أمهات الأطفال مزدوجي الإعاقة. Use the life model in social group work to support social support for mothers of children with dual Abstract: The current study aimed to verify the validity of the main hypothesis and that there is a statistically significant relationship between the use of the life model in in social group work and the support of social support for mothers of children with dual disabilities and its subsidiary hypotheses, this study belongs to experimental studies, the study concluded the validity of the main hypothesis Sub and this was manifested by the change of the experimental group responses after the professional intervention towards the informational, procedural, and emotional support.

Perceived social support in mothers of typically developing children and mothers of children with hearing sensory impairment

Background and Aim: Children with sensory impairments can bring stress to their parents. The purpose of this study was to compare per­ceived social support in mothers of children with hearing impairment, visual impairment, and typically developing children in Shiraz City, Iran.Methods: The study sample consisted of 139 mothers of normal children and children with sensory impairment (50 mothers of children with hearing impairment, 39 mothers of children with visual impairment, and 50 mothers of typ­ically developing children). The Multidimensio­nal Scale of Perceived Social Support was used to measure perceived social support. One-way ANOVA and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) were respectively used for analy­zing the total score of perceived social support and the scores of its subscales.
 Conclusion: The provision of counseling servi­ces and the implementation of appropriate inter­ventions for mothers of children with hearing impairment and mothers of children with visual impairment is necessary.

Social support and post-crisis growth among mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder and mothers of children with down syndrome

BackgroundRaising a child with special needs challenges mothers in complicated ways, yet, alongside these difficulties, there is evidence for maternal post-crisis growth. Social support is one element that may contribute to growth. AimsThis study explores the relationship between social support and post-crisis growth, examines type of disability as a mediating variable between support and growth, and, looks at the relations between subtypes of support and growth. Methods & ProceduresParticipants included 99 mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and 119 mothers of children with Down Syndrome (DS). Mothers completed three self-report questionnaires: demographic, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Stress-Related Growth Scale. ResultsSocial support was found to predict maternal post-crisis growth with type of disability serving as a mediating variable between them, such that social support contributes to post-crisis growth only among mothers of children with ASD. In addition, results revealed various correlations between types of support and types of growth. Conclusions & ImplicationsThe findings indicate that compared to DS, characteristics of ASD may contribute to less maternal post-crisis growth, and that social support serves as an important predictor for growth in this group. Finding ways to increase social support for mothers of children with ASD thus gains additional importance.

'I don't feel like I'm in this on my own': Peer support for mothers of children with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour.

This article reports on the peer support experiences of mothers with a son or daughter with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour. Engagement in parent peer support programs can improve family quality of life and may have multifaceted benefits at the interpersonal, intra-individual self-change and sociopolitical levels. Thirteen mothers were interviewed about their experiences of participating in a parent peer support program. Thematic analysis focused on the process elements of the program that contributed to its effectiveness in providing support to parents. There were three process-related themes: the role of a paid coordinator, diversity of engagement strategies and matching of peer support partners. Mothers appreciated the opportunities provided to engage in a range of strategies tailored to individual preferences, time and capacity constraints, supported by the paid coordinator. One-to-one peer support proved difficult to sustain given the challenges mothers faced in their day-to-day lives.

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms, Parenting Stress and Social Support in Chinese Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Although little is known about the current situation regarding autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in mainland China, psychiatric disorders are common among Chinese mothers of preschool children with ASD. Previous studies showed ASD child's behavioral symptoms, maternal anxiety, and maternal depressive symptoms were associated with overall parenting stress in northern China. In the present study, we retrospectively analyzed medical records at the hospital related to neuropsychiatric symptoms, parenting stress and social support in mothers of children with ASD from southern China. A total of 80 mothers of children with ASD were screened. Among them, 34 mothers were in low-functioning ASD group (L-ASD group) and 46 mothers were in high-functioning ASD group (H-ASD group). Identification of the ASD cases was confirmed with a Revised Autism Diagnostic Inventory. Neuropsychiatric symptoms, parenting stress and social support were measured by neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI), parenting stress index short form (PSI-SF), and multi-dimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS). Total mean score of the NPI in the L-ASD group was significantly higher than that in the H-ASD group (P<0.01). The subscale scores of NPI, including depression, anxiety, apathy, irritability, agitation, night time behavior disturbances and change in appetite were significantly higher in the L-ASD group than those in the H-ASD group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Meanwhile, the total PSI-SF scores and the scores of parental distress (PD), parental-child dysfunctional interaction (PCDI) and difficult child (DC) in the L-ASD group were significantly higher than those in the H-ASD group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The total score of MSPSS was also higher in the L-ASD group than in the H-ASD group (P<0.01). This study goes further to show the neuropsychiatric symptoms and parenting stress are significantly higher in mothers of children with ASD, and more social supports are needed for mothers of children with ASD from southern China, especially for mothers of children with low-functioning ASD.

Kistik Fibrozisli Çocukların Annelerinde Psikiyatrik Belirti, Ebeveynlik Tutumları ve Baş Etme Becerileri

Objective: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic disease affecting both the child and the family system. The mental state of the family can be affected with the burden brought on by the disease, and family functioning can become problematic. Coping abilities and strategies are important in determining the psychological adjustment in difficult situations. The aim of this study was to evaluate psychiatric symptoms, parental attitudes and coping strategies in mothers of children with CF and to examine the relationship of psychiatric symptoms with parental attitudes and coping skills. Material and Methods: The study included the mothers of 35 children with CF and of 40 children with acute medical problems and no chronic diseases. The Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, the COPE inventory, the Parent Attitude Research Instrument and the sociodemographic information form were used in the evaluation of the subjects. Results: All scores on the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised were higher than the control group in mothers of children with CF. Additionally; these mothers had higher scores on dependency and strictness/authoritarianism on the Parent Attitude Research Instrument. In the COPE inventory; focus on and venting of emotions, denial, religious coping and acceptance subscale scores were higher, whereas humor, use of instrumental social support and planning subscale scores were lower in mothers of children with CF. When mothers of children with CF were categorized according to the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised Global Severity Index with a cut-off score of “1”; mothers with scores higher than 1 suggesting psychopathology had higher scores for rejection of the homemaking role and marital conflict and coping strategies such as mental disengagement, denial, use of emotional social support, and ways of maladaptive composites. Conclusion: Coping abilities, marital relationship and mental health are negatively affected in mothers of children with CF. There is a need for further studies and developing programs that will improve the coping skills and provide psychosocial support for mothers of children with CF in our country.

The Effectiveness of a Psychoeducation Intervention delivered via WhatsApp for mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A randomized controlled trial.

Mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) report high levels of stress and lower levels of well-being than parents of typically developing children. Current interventions for ASD typically focus on working with the child rather than delivering strategies to help support parents. To evaluate the effectiveness of a psychoeducation intervention developed to support mothers of children with ASD in Saudi Arabia. Sixty-two mothers (23-52years) of children (26-78months) were recruited to a multisite randomized controlled trials of the intervention. The intervention consisted of one face-to-face session (60min) and four virtual sessions (30min each) delivered using WhatsApp. Parenting stress was the primary outcome, with secondary outcomes focusing on maternal depression, anxiety, and happiness, and child behaviour problems and ASD symptoms. Data were collected at baseline T1, immediately postintervention T2 and 8-week follow-up T3. One-way analysis of covariance was used at T2 and T3 with T1 scores entered as a covariate. Improvements were found at T2 for stress (F=234.34, p=.00, and d=-1.52) and depression (F=195.70, p=.00, and d=-2.14) but not anxiety, and these results were maintained at T3. Changes in child behaviour problems were limited to improvements in hyperactivity at T2 (F=133.66, p=.00, and d=-1.54). Although changes in stress and depression were statistically significant, change to clinically normal levels was limited to depression. None of the participants had recovered after the intervention (Parent Stress Index Short Form stress scores), whereas 23 mothers (71.87%) in the intervention group had recovered at T2 and 22 (68.75%) at T3 (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale depression scores). This intervention with WhatsApp support is beneficial but may need to be augmented with other forms of support for mothers of children with ASD including more condensed sessions on stress and interventions targeting anxiety.

The Negative Effects of Insufficient Support Systems on Kuwaiti Mothers of Children with Disabilities

AbstractParents raising a child with a physical or cognitive disability are often faced with the negative stigma against disabilities that exist in several Arab countries. This puts extra pressure on the parents and can lead to negative outcomes for the children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of parenting stress and varying levels of support for mothers of children with disabilities and the effects of these pressures on their relationship with their disabled child. We surveyed 85 Kuwaiti mothers of children with disabilities. The participants filled out an online survey with questions regarding parenting related stress, perceived social support, feelings of social isolation, self‐efficacy, and attachment to their child. Results indicate that mothers who feel unsupported by their families, community, and government experience more parenting stress and greater social isolation. These in turn lead them to feel less competent in their parenting abilities, and ultimately they feel less emotionally connected to their child. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Subjective Burden and Depression in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in India: Moderating Effect of Social Support.

The quantitative study assessed subjective burden, depression, and the moderating effect of social support in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in India. Seventy mothers were interviewed using a structured interview schedule, which measured their subjective burden, depression, and social support from family, friends, and significant others. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis with interaction terms. Half of the mothers in the study reported depression of clinical significance. Higher subjective burden significantly predicted higher depression. Of the three sources of support, only medium/high family support had a direct impact on depression and also moderated the impact of the subjective burden of depression. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.

Authoritative Parenting of Chinese Mothers of Children with and without Intellectual Disability

The present study examined authoritative parenting and associations with parenting sense of competence and social support in Chinese mothers of children with intellectual disability and mothers of typically developing children. One hundred and sixty-seven mothers of children with intellectual disability with a mean age of 10.89 years (SD = 1.74) and 119 mothers of typically developing children with a mean age of 10.55 years (SD = 1.10) participated in a survey. Mothers of children with intellectual disability reported similar levels of parental warmth, and less use of reasoning and autonomy support compared with mothers of typically developing children. Parenting efficacy contributed uniquely to three dimensions of authoritative parenting for mothers of children with intellectual disability. By comparison, parenting efficacy did not contribute to use of reasoning and autonomy support for mothers of typically developing children. Social support made a unique but small contribution to parental warmth but not to parental reasoning and autonomy support for mothers of children with intellectual disability. For mothers of typically developing children, social support was associated with both parental warmth and autonomy support. This study suggests that child disability status is related to maternal authoritative parenting, and additionally, parenting efficacy plays a more critical role in predicting authoritative parenting of Chinese mothers of children with intellectual disability than mothers of typically developing children.