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Enhancing Quality of Life for Mothers of Children with Intellectual Disabilities in Saudi Arabia: A Pilot Psychoeducational Support Group Approach to Managing Parenting Stress
Ghalib, Lama
Ghalib, Lama
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Abstract
This study investigated the experiences of mothers of children with intellectual disabilities (ID) in Saudi Arabia and assessed preliminary evidence regarding their perception of the intervention's effectiveness incorporating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) principles, in reducing stress and improving quality of life. A mixed-methods approach was employed. Seven volunteer mothers of children with ID in Saudi Arabia, recruited from the early intervention department of a specialized center in Jeddah. All seven mothers participated in the first session, where the Arabic version of the Parental Stress Scale (PSS) was administered to assess pre-intervention stress levels. The intervention consisted of two 90- minute psychoeducational support group sessions. Five mothers attended the second session, which incorporated art-based exercises. Both sessions focused on stress management techniques, emotional support, and sharing coping strategies. Data collection involved the pre- intervention PSS, post-intervention Likert-scale questionnaires, open-ended questions, and qualitative data from group discussions. Data analysis utilized SPSS for descriptive statistics on the PSS and post-intervention responses. Thematic analysis was applied to qualitative data from open-ended responses and group discussions. Results showed a moderate average pre-intervention PSS score (M = 38.00, SD = 6.74), indicating mild stress levels. Post-intervention, all participating mothers rated the support group as "Very Effective". Key themes included challenges of acceptance of the child's diagnosis, impact of family and religious beliefs, benefits of early intervention, family communication difficulties, and the impact of misinformation. The art-based session revealed that the intervention helped mothers better identify and utilize support systems. Mothers reported that the support group would improve their quality of life. Key recommendations include increasing availability and accessibility of psychoeducational support groups, integrating support group into early intervention services, providing training for healthcare professionals in sensitive communication, and raising public awareness.
Keywords: Parenting Stress, Quality of Life, Mothers of Children with Intellectual Disabilities, Saudi Arabia, Psychoeducational Support Group.