title: Comparative study on attitudes and psychological problems of mothers towards their children with developmental disability.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Parents' positive attitudes and psychological wellbeing play an important role in the development of the children with developmental disability. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of psychological problems among mothers of children with autism disorder, intellectual disability, and Down syndrome. The second aim was to assess the differences in mothers' attitudes and psychological problems among their children with intellectual disability, autism disorder, and Down syndrome. The third aim was to identify whether negative attitude was a predictor of psychological problems in these mothers.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 112 mothers of children having mild and moderate levels of autism disorder, Down syndrome, and intellectual disability were assessed using the Parental Attitude Scale and General Health Questionnaire-28.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, mothers of children with intellectual disability were found to have the most negative attitude towards their child. Mothers of children with autism disorder exhibited higher scores on somatic symptoms, anxiety, and social dysfunction when compared with their counterparts with Down syndrome and intellectual disability. Negative attitude was a significant predictor of psychological problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parental attitudes and psychological problems would vary among mothers of children with different types of developmental disability.
authors.affiliation: International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shobana
authors.affiliation: International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saravanan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Autistic disorder; Down syndrome; Intellectual disability; Mothers