Psychological Well-Being of Mothers of Children with Developmental Disabilities in Punjab: A Qualitative Inquiry
Abstract
In the field of special education and mental health research in Pakistan, the psychological health of mothers of children with developmental disability is a highly important but little studied area. Punjab mothers who have children with intellectual disabilities, ASD, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and related neurodevelopmental conditions have the heaviest burden of care in a sociocultural context of gendered care, disability-related stigma, weak professional support networks and the lack of formal psychological support for mothers. The methodology used in this qualitative study is Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) in an interpretive paradigm of developmental psychology lived experiences of mothers of children with developmental disabilities in Punjab. In-depth semi structured interviews and focused group discussions with purposively selected mothers in government special education institutions of Punjab were conducted to generate data. Based on the conceptual framework of the Multidimensional Model of Psychological Well-Being proposed by Ryff, the thematic analysis demonstrates a complex psychological trajectory for Punjabi mothers, ranging from severe grief and chronic sorrow, to social marginalization and identity disruption, together with an impressive capacity for resilience, spiritual meaning-making, positive personal growth, and intense advocacy for their children's rights and dignity. The study highlights key structural, cultural and institutional barriers to maternal psychological well-being in the setting of Punjab and recommends a package of policy and programmatic interventions that will help establish psychologically supportive services, culturally appropriate integration of mental health services within the overall framework of special education, and community-based infrastructure to support maternal psychological well-being.
Keywords: psychological well-being, mothers, developmental disabilities, Punjab, Ryff's multidimensional model, interpretive phenomenological analysis, qualitative inquiry, caregiver burden, chronic sorrow, resilience, Pakistan, special education, mental health
