title: Factors associated with the empowerment of Japanese families raising a child with developmental disorders.
abstract: We identified factors associated with the empowerment of Japanese families using the Family Empowerment Scale (FES) to contribute to the improvement of empowerment in Japanese families raising a child with developmental disorders (DDs). The study was conducted in 350 caregivers who raised children aged 4-18 years with DDs in urban and suburban districts in Japan. Multiple regression analysis of data collected from 275 respondents revealed that a decrease in family empowerment level correlated with a higher number of siblings reared together, a shorter period since the diagnosis was made, and lower awareness of social support and self-efficacy in caregivers. Medications, possession of an intellectual disability certificate, infrequent hospital visits of the child, disuse of local services by caregivers, and young caregivers also correlated with a lower level of empowerment in the Japanese family.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health Care and Nursing, Institute of Nursing Sciences, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan. riewaki@md.tsukuba.ac.jp
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wakimizu
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujioka
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoneyama
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iejima
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002668:Child Rearing / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011209:Power, Psychological; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult