ISSN: 0973-5755

Vol. 8, No. 2, March, 2014

STUDY OF BURDEN IN PARENTS OF CHILDREN

WITH MENTAL RETARDATION
Kuldeep Singh*, Raj Kumar**, NovRattan Sharma*** and
Dharmender Kumar Nehra****

ABSTRACT
Current research findings have indicated that diagnosis of mental
retardation in a child is commonly experienced as having a devastating
effect on parents lives. Parents or care-givers are definitely the heart of
the family; who not only has to deal with the issues associated with
childs disability but also has to maintain the household. To date, a number
of studies have demonstrated that caregivers are more vulnerable to
develop mental and physical problems as compare to non-caregivers. The
present study assessed and compared the family burden among the parents
of children with mental retardation and healthy controls. Family Burden
Interview Schedule was administered on 50 parents of children diagnosed
with mental retardation (Department of Psychiatry) and 50 parents of
healthy controls (Dental department) P.G.I.M.S. Rohtak . Statistical
analysis was done using SPSS- 16.0. The results revealed a high
prevalence of burden in study group. Further in comparison, a significant
difference was found between study group and healthy control group.
Study group showed significant higher level of burden than healthy control
group. Therefore, it is very important that mental health professionals to
take care for these populations as individuals.

Keywords: Mental Retardation, Disability, Care-givers, and Family burden.

*
**
***
****

Psychiatric Social Worker, Hisar, Email Kuldeep.olla@gmail.com

Clinical Psychologist, Savera Drug De-Addiction Centre, Hisar.
Professor, Department of Psychology, M.D.U Rohtak.
Clinical Psychologist, State Institute of Mental Health, PGIMS Campus, Rohtak.