ABSTRACT
Background
This study investigates the stress that parents can experience as a result of raising children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, in relation to various child and family characteristics and to families’ social opportunities and social support.
Method
A total of 225 parents of children with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities in Abu Dhabi Emirate completed a quantitative questionnaire.
Results
Parental stress was significantly correlated with children’s age and type of disability, with mothers’ age, fathers’ education, children’s place of residence, number of children with disabilities in the family, family monthly income, social opportunities and social support, but with none of the other characteristics examined.
Conclusions
Governmental and non-governmental organizations in the United Arab Emirates should take measures to improve the psychological well-being of parents of children with disabilities, a key intervention being the improvement of support services to such parents. Some cultural issues have been discussed.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author is very thankful to all the associated personnel in any reference that contributed in/for the purpose of this research.
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
The authors declare no competing interest.
ETHICAL APPROVAL
This study was carried out with an initiation from the authors.
CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE
All subjects gave written informed consent in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.
AVAILABILITY OF DATA AND MATERIALS
The datasets used and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.