title: The impact on mothers of bringing up a child with intellectual disabilities: a cross-cultural study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most research into the impact on mothers of having a child with an intellectual disability has been done in Western cultures. These mothers are at increased risk of stress, along with poorer health and weakened family relationships. Nurses are well placed to support these mothers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  (1) To describe across three different cultures-Irish, Taiwanese and Jordanian-the inter-relationships among three indicators of maternal well-being. (2) To identify the coping strategies of mothers and the professional and informal supports available to them. (3) To identify the variables that have a negative impact on maternal well-being and possible moderating influences on them.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey approach with three groups of self-selected mothers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The characteristics of the child determined the inclusion criteria; namely aged 5-18 years with a diagnosis of intellectual disability of such severity that the children attended special schools or centres. In each country, the special services within particular geographical areas were approached and all families known to them were given the opportunity to participate. In all 206 mothers agreed to participate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mothers were interviewed individually at home or in the day centre attended by their child. They completed various rating scales of known reliability and validity. In addition they described in their own words, the impact the child had on their lives and how they coped.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all three countries, mothers experienced poor mental health, increased levels of child-related stress and poorer family functioning which the qualitative data further illuminated. Their child's behaviour problems were a major factor in this. The impacts on mothers' well-being were not alleviated by access to professional supports or use of coping strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health professionals need to adopt family-centred approaches that embrace the support needs of mothers. Similar strategies would apply across all cultures although they must be responsive to individual need.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, N. Ireland BT37 0QB, UK. r.mcconkey@ulster.ac.uk
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McConkey
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Truesdale-Kennedy
authors.forename: Mei-Ying
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Samiha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jarrah
authors.forename: Raghda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shukri
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D007494:Ireland; D007597:Jordan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D016487:Parenting / Q000208:ethnology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan