Challenges of parents with adult-age disabled children

1. Challenges of parents with adult-age disabled children Ji-Young Won & Jun Woo Lee Kangnam University in South Korea

2. Introduction • This study addressed parents’ experiences raising children with a variety of impairments in South Korea. In particular, this study aimed to assess the factors associated with the life satisfaction of parents whose adult children had severe permanent disabilities. The study assessed the association between financial difficulties, family conflicts and the life satisfaction of parents. In addition, this study reported parents’ thoughts about ideal services for their adult children.

3. Methods Sample • The survey targeted participants of the 2011 annual meeting of the Korea Parents Association, an organization of parents with disabled children. A total of 114 questionnaires were distributed, and 59 mothers and 9 fathers with children aged 18 or older completed the questionnaires.

4. Table 1. The characteristics of parents and their disabled children

5. Methods Measurement Financial difficulties : Parents answered questions regarding financial difficulties resulting from caring for their children with severe impairments.   Family conflict : Parents answered three questions regarding family conflict resulting from caring for their children with severe impairments. The first question asked about the extent to which respondents experienced family conflict caused by a disabled child. If parents stated that they had experienced family conflict, then the second and third questions were answered. These questions asked about the parties between whom the conflicts occurred and the major cause of those conflicts. Life satisfaction of parents : Parents’ levels of life satisfaction were measured by the scale of life satisfaction developed by Sung-Jae Choi in 1986, which consists of 14 items that examine a respondent’s positive feelings and subjective satisfaction with his/her life in the past, present, and future and assesses the respondent’s self-image. Preferred service agencies for the adult-age child: Parents were asked which type of care service agencies were the most appropriate for their children.

6. Results • Financial difficulties causing by caring for a disabled adult child

7. Results • Family conflicts causing by caring for a disabled adult child

8. Results • Family relationships experiencing the most conflicts

9. Results • Effects of financial difficulties and family conflicts on life satisfaction of parents

10. Results • Parents’ preference for different types of service agencies

11. Conclusion • Family conflict is negatively associated with parental life satisfaction. In addition, caring for a disabled child affects all family members, including non-disabled siblings. Therefore, appropriate support should be given to improve the psychosocial adjustment of all family members across the life span. • The period of transition from adolescence to adult life is a stressful time for families with severely disabled children. When a disabled child becomes an adult, he or she is excluded from the public school system and kept at home. This change seems to increase the burden on families caring for disabled children. As a result, parents and their children begin to consider living options at this point in time.

12. Conclusion • Although parents experience significant challenges when living with disabled children who have reached the age of majority, they prefer that their children stay at home and utilize community-based services instead of living in a separate environment. However, when financial resources and community services for severely disabled people are limited, remaining at home may not be an affordable alternative for many families.