Stress among mothers of children with intellectual disabilities in urban India: role of gender and maternal coping

Abstract

Background: The study assessed stress among mothers of young children with intellectual disabilities in urban India and examined the extent to which child functioning and maternal coping predict maternal stress. Through qualitative analyses, the study identified negative and positive dimensions of Indian mothers' caregiving experiences.

Materials and methods: Mothers completed Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, and children's teachers completed Vineland-II teacher rating form. Maternal responses to a semi-structured interview were rated to assess maternal coping and content analysed to derive qualitative themes.

Results: Three-fourths of the sample obtained a clinically significant stress score, and maternal coping emerged as a robust predictor of stress for mothers of boys with intellectual disabilities. Qualitative analyses indicated positive and negative maternal experiences related to self, child, family and community.

Conclusions: The high level of stress has important clinical implications. Similarly, the significant role of maternal coping, moderating role of child gender and the multidimensional caregiving experiences have implications for future research and family interventions in India.