Needs of Indian parents having children with intellectual disability

Abstract

Disability in children gives rise to various needs in parents, which may vary according to the nature of disability and parental characteristics. Cross-cultural findings will help in understanding the process of meeting those needs, which ultimately help in designing appropriate interventions. The main objectives of the study were to compare the perceived needs of fathers and mothers having a child with intellectual disability, and to understand their cumulative needs with reference to the age, sex, and severity of functional disability of the child. Thirty couples, each having a child with intellectual disability, were assessed with the NIMH Family Needs Schedule. The needs expressed by fathers and mothers differed significantly. Needs of the parents varied according to the age and sex of the child. Severity of intellectual disability had less impact on the nature of parental needs. The needs of mothers and fathers can be different. Some needs of the parents may subside as their intellectually disabled child grows, but they are duly replaced by others. Needs of the parents grossly vary according to the sex but not the severity of intellectual disability of the child. Wherever applicable, family intervention should focus on the needs of the mothers and fathers separately with due consideration to the sex and age of the child.

Effect of Coping Strategies on Stress of Parent with Intellectual Disabilities Children

“…In this context, it must be understood that parents' needs do not mean the personal needs of the parents, but the needs they experience for the child as is evident from several studies (Azar & Badr, 2010;Kermanshahi et al, 2008;Verma and Kishore, 2009). The needs of the parents appear to depend on personal resources of the parents, family variables and the characteristics of children, and more importantly the socio-cultural setting to which the families belong.…”

“…Some of the prominent needs reported by the parents are related to personal care needs (Plant & Sanders, 2007), management of adaptive behaviors (McCarthy, Cuskelly, Van Kraayenoord & Cohen, 2006), medical (Neely-Barnes & Marcenko, 2004), technical, financial and social needs (Verma & Kishore, 2009). While these needs are common in the context of other disabilities and nondisabilities, the intensity of the above is usually very high and unique in intellectual disabilities (Peshawaria, 1995;Verma & Kishore, 2009;James & Ashwill, 2007& Peters & Jackson, 2009.…”

Behavioral management in children with intellectual disabilities in a resource-poor setting in Barwani, India

“…While the needs of Indian parents have been fount not to vary with the severity of their child's ID,[29] in this study we observed, in both the CBR and clinical setting, that parents having children with mild and moderate ID were more concerned about their behavioral problems. This concern was likely one reason that these particular parents focused more on their child's behavioral management than parents having children with severe and profound ID.…”

Perspectives of intellectual disability in India: epidemiology, policy, services for children and adults

“…In a study focusing on parents' needs [33 ], 30 couples, each having a child with intellectual disability, were assessed. The needs expressed by fathers and mothers differed significantly.…”