An Assessment of Psychological Wellbeing and Resilience in Mothers of Children with Special Needs

This study investigated the levels of Psychological Wellbeing (PWB) and Resilience in mothers of children with special needs, specifically those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Intellectual Disability (ID), and examined the relationship between these two variables. A non-probability purposive sample of 30 mothers having children with special needs, aged 25-40 years, and who were selected from private NGOs and registered clinics. The study utilized the Ryff Scale of Psychological Well-Being (PWB), and the Nicholson McBride Resilience Questionnaire (NMRQ), for assessment. Further data was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation analysis. The scores obtained were high scores in the areas of Personal Growth, and purpose in life, where 50% of women demonstrated the developing level of resilience, 30% indicated the established phase of resilience and 20% were found to be in the strong Resilience phase, yet the population of concern didn’t have the exceptional level of resilience. The study also reveals the correlation between the different variables of psychological wellbeing and the Resilience phase the patient was in, where the results show the correlation between the variables but no to a greater extend, where the results highlighted the positive correlation in the areas of Autonomy and positive relations with others. And a negative correlation between the variables such as environmental mastery, personal growth, purpose in life and self-Acceptance. The study concludes that mothers of children with special needs possess an improved sense of Personal Growth and Purpose in Life, and sufficient capacity for Resilience. Although the overall correlations were weak, the findings suggest that interventions targeting the key dimensions of PWB (such as Environmental Mastery and Self-Acceptance) and resilience could be beneficial. The results have implications for therapeutic programs aimed at enhancing the psychological well-being and resilience of parental caregivers.