The Relationship between caregiver burden, perceived social support, Loneliness and Psychological Distress among mothers of Children with Intellectual Disability

Abstract

The present study aimed to explore the relationship between caregiver burden, perceived social support, loneliness and psychological distress among mothers of children with intellectual disability. A correlational research design was employed. The sample of mothers of children (N=150) with intellectual disabilities was drawn into the current study through the use of purposive sampling technique, where the age of mothers ranged between 30 and 40 years old and children were included from 6 to 12 years of age. The instruments used in this study are informed consent form, demographic sheet, Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZBI), Kessler Psychological Distress scale (k-10) Loneliness Scale, and Perceived Social Support Scale. The mothers of children with intellectual disabilities were given the scales in their translated Urdu forms. The results indicated significant positive relationship between Caregiver Burden and Psychological Distress. Perceive Social Support non-significantly predicts Loneliness, whereas Caregiver Burden significantly predicted Psychological Distress, Perceived social support significantly predicted Psychological Distress. Results also indicated that working mothers face more psychological distress as compared to non-working mothers, mothers in nuclear family system have more psychological Distress as compared to joint family system, joint family system has more caregiver burden as compared to nuclear family system, Widow and divorced mothers face more caregiver burden and psychological distress than married mothers.