Fear of Negative Evaluation, Relationship Structure with Spouses, Shame and Guilt as Predictors of Resilience among Mothers of Exceptional Children from Lucknow and Kolkata

Caring for children with exceptionality can be particularly challenging for mothers, who often shoulder primary caregiving responsibilities. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the relationship between fear of negative evaluation, relationship structure with spouses, shame, and guilt as predictors of resilience among 151 mothers (aged 25-65) of exceptional children in two Indian cities, Lucknow and Kolkata. The results indicated significant differences in fear of negative evaluation, relationship structure with spouses, and guilt between the two locations. Additionally, selected factors of resilience and guilt varied significantly among mothers belonging to nuclear and joint families. Shame and relationship structure adversely predicted maternal resilience in Lucknow and Kolkata, respectively. Fear of negative evaluation also negatively predicted resilience with high significance and similar magnitude in both cities. The study highlights the importance of cultural factors in addressing maternal resilience and suggests a need for developing interventions and support systems for mothers of exceptional children in India.