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Marital satisfaction of C hinese mothers of children with autism and intellectual disabilities in H ong K ong
Author(s) -
Kwok S. Y. C. L.,
Leung C. L. K.,
Wong D. F. K.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of intellectual disability research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.941
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1365-2788
pISSN - 0964-2633
DOI - 10.1111/jir.12116
Subject(s) - psychology , stigma (botany) , autism , context (archaeology) , clinical psychology , marital status , psychiatry , medicine , population , environmental health , paleontology , biology
Background Previous research showed an association among perceived stigma, perceived caregiving burden and marital satisfaction of mothers. However, little is known about their relationship among mothers of young children with disabilities in the C hinese context. The mediating role of perceived caregiving burden between perceived stigma and marital satisfaction was seldom explored. Hence, the present study aims to investigate the relationship between perceived stigma, perceived caregiving burden and marital satisfaction of C hinese mothers of children with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorders in H ong K ong. Methods A cross‐sectional survey using convenience sampling was conducted with mothers of pre‐school children with disabilities aged from 2 to 6. A total of 160 completed questionnaires were collected from five special child care centres in H ong K ong. Results The findings in the hierarchical regression analyses showed that perceived stigma and perceived caregiving burden were significant predictors of mothers' marital satisfaction. Perceived burden, including perceived social burden, emotional burden and developmental burden but excluding time‐dependence and physical burden, were found to be significant mediators between perceived stigma and marital satisfaction. Conclusion To address the negative consequences brought on by stigma, measures can be taken to prevent stigmatisation and minimise the harmful effects. To alleviate mothers' perceived burden, A cceptance and C ommitment T herapy, mutual support groups and psycho‐educational and skills training programmes can be conducted for the mothers.