Supervised by Dr. Roquia Begum

Abstract

The main purpose of the present study was to see the outcome of a psycho-education and support prorgramme for the parents of children with Intellectual Disability (ID). There were three objectives of the study. One, to develop a psycho-education and support programme in order for the parents to interact with children more effectively. Two, assessing the level of ID concept, parenting practices and parenting sense of competence among the parents of children with ID. Three, to see whether the psycho-education and support programme enhances the parenting practices and parenting sense of competence of the parents of children with intellectual disability as well as their concept about ID. The study assessed consumer satisfaction ratings from participants. Thirty-two mothers (age range: 25-60 years; mean age 35.62) of children with ID participated in a 6-week long psycho-education and support programme. Pre-post design was used to assess the concept about ID, parenting practices and sense of competence of the participants and data were analyzed on group and individual level to find out the outcome of the programme. Due to practical limitations, no control group was included. That was why the results were analyzed on an individual level (series of N- Is) also. The results were discussed in terms of clinical significance. During post-intervention phase, a significant improvement in maternal concept of ID, parenting practices and parenting sense of competence was noted. The results were supported by reliable change indexes, evidencing that actual improvement took place. It was clear that as compared with the pre-intervention level, mothers of children with ID showed an improved overall ID concept, an improvement in their parenting practices, and an overall increased sense of parenting competence in the post- intervention level. So the psycho-education and support programme was found to be effective as hypothesized. Statistical analysis prior to and following intervention suggested that mothers having inadequate ID concept would be more likely to employ less effective parenting practices and would experience a low level of parental sense of competence. Consumer satisfaction of the said programme was found to be very high. Limitations of the present dissertation were mentioned and recommendations for further studies made.