Family burden and quality of life of mothers of children and adolescents with mental retardation or borderline mental capacity

Abstract

Introduction

Studies have found that the cognitive function levels of intellectually challenged children add a burden to the family and affect quality of life.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to determine the family burden felt by mothers of children, ages 6–16, whose mental capacity evaluation indicates an IQ of 35–79 to explore the mother's quality of life and discover the factors that yield an impact in this context.

Aims

The main objective of this study therefore was to ascertain the family burden and quality of life experienced by the parents of children with mentally retarded or borderline mental capacity.

Methods

The WISC-R test was used in the research to determine the intellectual capacity of children, 6–16 years of age. The sample comprised 131 children and adolescents between the ages 6–16 with IQs in the interval of 35–79 and their mothers. The parents accompanying their children were assessed using the Family Burden Assessment Scale, the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument and a sociodemographic questionnaire that was filled out during face-to-face interviews.

Results

The quality of life of the mothers was found to be average. At the same time, as the IQ level of the children went up, the less the mothers felt they were under a family burden. It was seen that the mothers experienced the most difficulty in the domains of “perception of inadequacy” and “emotional burden.”

Conclusion

Mothers with intellectually disabled children need psychosocial support. Providing all members of the family with counseling services to help them cope with the issues and responsibilities involved in the care of disabled children may make a significant difference in quality of life.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.