Burden and quality of life among caregivers of children with intellectual impairment: Across the gender

Abstract

Background: Several studies have found that parents of children with chronic disease or disabilities have higher stress scores than parents of normal children. Parents with children having intellectual disability experience more stress compared to their counterpart who have children with no intellectual disability. Objective: To assess the role of gender in the account of quality of life and family burden among the parents of children with intellectual impairment. Sample: Total a group of 240 participants (120 children with intellectual impairment and 120 equally divided parents of the children) was selected in the study. Design: A cross-sectional study design was used and the study was conducted at a daycare centre of a non-governmental registered organization, Muzaffarpur, Bihar. Tools: Seguin Form Board Test (for children), WHO Quality of Life (BREF) Scale and Family Burden Schedule (for parents of the children). Results and conclusion: In the results, it has been found that both parents either mother or father showed an equal level of quality of life and family burden. There is a non-significant difference was seen between parents of children with a low level of intellectual functioning.