Unveiling the unseen: Parental experiences in nurturing children with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33024/minh.v8i9.1208
Intellectual Disabilities Nurturing Children Parental Experiences
Abstract
Background: Parents of children with intellectual disabilities face a lifelong caregiving responsibility with multidimensional burdens, including chronic stress, financial pressure, and limited culturally sensitive mental health support. Previous studies have focused more on psychological aspects, so the holistic understanding of resilience and cultural dynamics is still limited.
Purpose: To examine the experiences of parents in caring for children with intellectual disabilities
Method: Literature search using PRISMA guidelines on PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar (2015–2025) with related keywords. Quantitative studies on caregivers of children with intellectual disabilities were selected, while non-parents and non-intelectual disability were excluded. Study selection and methodological quality assessment (Joanna Briggs Institute checklist) were conducted by more than one researcher. Narrative synthesis was applied due to the heterogeneity of the data.
Results: Analysis of 10 studies (2,473 participants) revealed high emotional burdens (stress and anxiety) due to children's behavior, stigma, and lack of support. Resilience strategies such as mindful parenting and recreational activities enhance parent-child bonding and self-efficacy. Culture influences coping mechanisms, while father involvement is often hindered by traditional norms. Compared to previous reviews, these findings emphasize cross-cultural resilience and the urgency of community-based gender-inclusive interventions.
Conclusion: Caregivers of children with intellectual disabilities demonstrate resilience despite facing complex challenges. Interventions need to integrate psychosocial training, community support, as well as culturally sensitive policies and father participation.
Downloads
References
Barratt, M., Lewis, P., Duckworth, N., Jojo, N., Malecka, V., Tomsone, S., & Wilson, N. J. (2025). Parental Experiences of Quality of Life When Caring for Their Children With Intellectual Disability: A Meta‐Aggregation Systematic Review. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 38(1), e70005.
Bayat, M. (2023). Teaching exceptional children: foundations and best practices in early childhood special education. Routledge.
Bourke-Taylor, H., Leo, M., Harris, V., & Tirlea, L. (2023). Feasibility of health promoting activity coaching for mothers of children with disabilities: Pilot nonrandomized controlled trial. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77(3), 7703205140.
Bujnowska, A. M., Rodríguez, C., García, T., Areces, D., & Marsh, N. V. (2019). Parenting and future anxiety: The impact of having a child with developmental disabilities. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(4), 668.
Dewi, E. I., & Roswita, M. Y. (2023). Mindful parenting, emotional regulation, and parental stress on the parents of children with intellectual developmental disorder. Journal of Child Development, Exceptionality and Education, 81-88.
Hayes, S. A., & Watson, S. L. (2013). The impact of parenting stress: A meta-analysis of studies comparing the experience of parenting stress in parents of children with and without autism spectrum disorder. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 43(3), 629-642.
Hu, X. (2022). Chinese fathers of children with intellectual disabilities: Their perceptions of the child, family functioning, and their own needs for emotional support. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 68(2), 147-155.
Jenaro, C., Flores, N., Gutiérrez-Bermejo, B., Vega, V., Pérez, C., & Cruz, M. (2020). Parental stress and family quality of life: Surveying family members of persons with intellectual disabilities. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(23), 9007.
Kanthasamy, S., Miskon, N., Barlas, J., & Marsh, N. V. (2024). Family caregiver adaptation during the transition to adulthood of individuals with intellectual disabilities: a scoping review. In Healthcare (Vol. 12, No. 1, p. 116). MDPI.
Laçin, E., & Doğan, B. G. (2024). Parenting Behaviors and Parental self-efficacy: A comparative study of parents of children with intellectual disabilities and typically developing children. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 28(4), 885-897.
Law, N. K., Hall, P. L., & Cheshire, A. (2021). Common negative thoughts in early motherhood and their relationship to guilt, shame and depression. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30(8), 1831-1845.
Maulik, P. K., Mascarenhas, M. N., Mathers, C. D., Dua, T., & Saxena, S. (2011). Prevalence of intellectual disability: a meta-analysis of population-based studies. Research in developmental disabilities, 32(2), 419-436.
Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. (2018). Riset Kesehatan Dasar (RISKESDAS) 2018. Retrieved from: https://repository.badankebijakan.kemkes.go.id/id/eprint/3514/
Mohamed, A., Opoku, M. P., Safi, M., Belbase, S., Al Mughairbi, F., Xie, Q., & Almarzooq, S. (2024). Fathers’ involvement in raising children with intellectual disabilities: Mothers’ ratings of the contribution of their spouses. Plos one, 19(5), e0294077.
Moolayil, N. (2021). Mothers' Perceptions of Ability in Children with Intellectual Disability and Mother-Child Connectedness. Dissertation. 595.
Mundakir, M., Choliq, I., Sukadiono, S., Fitriyani, V. R., & Firman, F. (2024). Caregiving experiences among parents of children with physical and intellectual disabilities: a qualitative systematic review. Jurnal Ners, 19(3), 378.
Mustfa, Z., Anwar, P., Tahir, M., Fatima, R., Shahid, S., & Shakil, H. (2025). Mental health outcomes among caregivers of children with intellectual disabilities: A quantitative study. Journal of Asian Development Studies, 14(1), 1035-1041.
Plant, K. M., & Sanders, M. R. (2007). Predictors of care‐giver stress in families of preschool‐aged children with developmental disabilities. Journal of intellectual disability research, 51(2), 109-124.
Schalock, R. L., Luckasson, R., & Tassé, M. J. (2021). An overview of intellectual disability: Definition, diagnosis, classification, and systems of supports. American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilities, 126(6), 439-442.
Su, C., & Khanlou, N. (2023). Effects of Stress, Social Support, Feelings of Shame, and Loss of Face on Mental Health of Chinese Immigrant Mothers of Children with Developmental Disabilities in Canada. International Network on Youth Integration, 12(1), 78-95.
Zabidi, A. S., Hastings, R. P., & Totsika, V. (2023). Spending leisure time together: Parent child relationship in families of children with an intellectual disability. Research in developmental disabilities, 133, 104398.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Sophia Anggoh
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
