Psychological and emotional state of parents having intellectually and developmentally disabled children

Abstract Background: A family is a functional unit that comprises of a set of individuals that provide each other with a sense of belonging, identity and a secure environment for its members, allowing them to support each other emotionally, financially and socially. A disability in the family has the potential to disrupt the proper functioning of a family. Objectives: The main objective of this study is to know the mental and emotional condition of parents of children with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) and to show the common view of parents towards the condition in their children. Methods: The study was conducted based on two levels. The first level involves one to one interviews with parents of 53 children attending a special school in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu state in India and was followed by a second level of the study which involved group discussions. Results: Among all the IDDs only Down syndrome can be recognized at the birth. Parents of a mentally disabled daughter have their fears further compounded. Due to such fears, parents have reported covering their daughter’s identity in public and have thought about the removal of their daughter’s reproductive organs. Conclusion: To avoid mismanagement of the child’s condition, basic medical training of the parents becomes imperative and they should be educated on the reproductive rights of daughters. Hence a holistic approach involving addressing the psychological, medical and financial issues facing affected families is necessary to bring about the healthy development of the IDD child.