IMPACTS OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY CHILDREN UPON PARENT'S QUALITY OF LIFE

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the quality of life of parents having child with intellectual disability. A descriptive study was conducted in Awat institute center of brain rehabilitation in Erbil city – Kurdistan region - Iraq, between 15th of February to 20th May, 2015. A standardized questionnaire (WHO - QoL, 1998) was used to assess the parent's quality of life. Fourteen related experts were validated on the questionnaire with reliability 0.918. The data collected was conducted through a direct interview, and analyzed by SPSS version 20, using frequencies, percentages, chi-square, Mann-Whitney U Test. The finding of the study found that fathers felt sensory dysfunction and pain and discomfort, but mothers were feeling low self-esteem because of their age, level of education, occupation, and body mass index. The fathers complained of social support because of their age while mothers complained of social support because of their body mass index. Overall the study found that both parents were under the burden, in addition to that the mothers were affected more than the father. The finding indicated that most mothers complained of psychosocial problems while fathers complained of the physical and social problem. But the study indicated that overall there was a significant difference between parent’s quality of life.