Lived Experiences of Mothers of Children with Intellectual Disabilities:A Phenomenological Study

This study explored the lived experiences of five mothers who were primary caregivers for their children with intellectual disabilities. It provided an opportunity to explore the nature of their mothering experience and understand the meaning they attribute to their caregiver role. The mothers of mentally disabled children showed significantly more psychiatric morbidity and stress than mothers of normal children, but fathers did not show the same deleterious effect on psychological health.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the intricacy of the lived experiences of mothers.

Method: A qualitative, phenomenological research design was used in this study,five mother were taken as sample Here the sample is mothers of children with Intellectual Disability and data was to be collected by interview method. The interviews were transcript into word file. Analysis was done by Colaizzi’s Strategy.

Result and Discussion: By using phenomenological method several themes and subthemes emerged which is provided the description of the live experience of mother of children with intellectual disability. This work explore the live experience of mother of children with intellectual disability and provide recommendation for further study. Interview results show that participants are going through the same level experience at the certain stage.

Summary and Conclusion: In summary research study used aqualitative, phenomenological method by which to gain a greater understanding the live experience mother of children with intellectual disability. The specific circumstance associated with the pivotal moment were different from each participant, but the clarity of the moment was universal. In conclusion, this study explored the lived experiences of five mothers who resided with and were primary caregivers for their children with intellectual disabilities. It provided an opportunity to explore the nature of their mothering experience and understand the meaning they ascribe to their caregiver role.