Cross-Cultural Study of Mothers Raising a Child with an Intellectual Disability Reveals Poor Mental Health, Increased Levels of Child-Related Stress, and Poorer Family Functioning

January 8, 2008

A study of Irish, Jordanian, and Taiwanese mothers raising a child with an intellectual disability revealed that irrespective of the culture, the presence of a child with intellectual disabilities affects families in similar ways. Foremost, problem behaviors exhibited by the child had a significant impact on the mothers' levels of stress and their perceptions of family functioning. In all three countries, mothers experienced poor mental health, increased levels of child-related stress, and poorer family functioning. The study also found that the mothers' well-being was not alleviated by access to professional supports or use of coping strategies.

To read the entire study titled, "The impact on mothers of bringing up a child with intellectual disabilities: A cross-cultural study" by Roy McConkey et al., click here.