Sustainable Caregiving? Demands Upon and Resources of Female Carers of Adults with Intellectual Disability

Abstract

Female carers of adults with an intellectual disability are increasing in our communities as those with intellectual disability live into middle and old age. Twenty-seven carers between the ages of 45 and 85 years responded to questionnaires about demands, resources, and their health. Almost all were in the clinical range on the measure of psychological functioning. Demands contributed significantly to poorer functioning; however, other measures did not. The women in this study appeared to underreport the level of difficulties they experienced. The caregiving role undertaken by these women does not appear to be sustainable under their current circumstances.

Keywords:

• adults
• intellectual disability
• mothers
• female carers
• demands
• stressors
• stress
• depression
• psychological functioning
• coping
• resources