Grandparents as Supports to Mothers of Persons with Intellectual Disability

Abstract

This study examined the impact of social support from grandparents on the well-being of mothers of persons with intellectual disabilities. Also, it described the social support functions served by the grandparents across the lifespan and the predictors of this support. The subjects included 120 mothers of a child with moderate to profound intellectual disability living in the family homes. Surveys and interviews conducted in home asked about characteristics of the child (age, level of intellectual disability, physical health, maladaptive behavior) and mother (age, minority status, and socio-economic status); support received other than from grandparents (unmet needs, other informal supports) and grandparent support (instrumental and emotional), and maternal depression. The key variables predicting maternal depression were the mother's younger age and poorer physical health and less emotional support from the grandparents. Grandparents of younger children provided more instrumental support than did grandparents of adult children.

Key Words:

• Grandparents
• social support
• mental retardation