1.

INTRODUCTION
Mental health is undoubtedly an indispensable foundation of human
personality, it has been described as the soil from which the finest flower grow,
therefore neglecting ones health for other virtues in life is deemed to be the
greatest follies. The future of our country depends on the mental health and
strength of our people. Man is social animal and he has a unique sense of
belongings to a social environment while as a member of group. He comes in
contact with people and situation to which he has to adjust with. As we know
that we are living in the age of enlightenment, the age of reason and the age of
progress,

economic

recessions,

racial

prejudices,

population

explosion,

atmospheric pollution, poverty, treat of nuclear war and erosion of values are
sufficient to keep mankind in state of perpetual insecurity and anxiety.
World health organization can boast the miracle of medicines to eradicate
epidemiological diseases that have plagued mankind for centuries. Still some
parts of Africa and South East Asia are in a shambles in Medicare. Most of the
scientist and psychologist have been dealing with diseases or illness.
There are three type of person in world broadly: First mentally strong, mentally
normal, and mentally subnormal. First two categories have not any problem to
adjust in their environment. For e.g. vocation, education, social etc. But
mentally retarded adolescent have many challenges, which they have to deal.
This could be a familiar experience for many of us that no stage of life is free
from struggles and everyone has to deal with such situations. There are
conflicts between parents and children from aspiration point of view. Children
experiencing failures in competitive situation, admission in some important
course, securing good marks in examination and having placement in good
vocation. These situations not only deal with normal and strong children but
also with subnormal, when the parents aspiration level did not match with
their abilities.
All these are considered normal stressful events with which the parents of
mentally retarded adolescents have to deal in everyday life. All parents hope
that their children will accomplish much more than they, as adults were able

to accomplish. One can then imagine the shock upon realization that this
dream will not come true. Feelings of guilt, shame and despair will arise and
the parents will begin to ask questions such as "Why did it happen to me?
What did I do wrong? They will very often initially blame themselves. With time,
they will begin to recover from this initial shock and then will begin to ask
questions such as why? Will it happen again? Ultimately, the most important of
all, what can be done for my child?
It is far more painful then faces the parents of dying child, for death is an
irrevocable and final and its wounds will often be healed with time. To face the
parents of mentally retarded child, on the other hand often brings with it the
specter of chronic sorrow of parents and life of disability of the child. The hopes
and aspirations all parents have for their children
2. REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE
The review of the literature is carried out to know about the existing practices
of treating the variables in the research. It helps to fasten the research process.
It may help him to define and limit the variables and to perform some other
important function related with the research. To acquaint with the current
knowledge in the area of study and to understand the research methodology,
the investigator reviewed the related literature as following:
Singhi, PD. (1990) explored that the families with disabled children perceived
greater financial stress, frequent disruption of family routine and leisure, poor
social interaction, and ill effects on their physical and mental health.
Brust, JD. (1992) Multiple regression analysis showed an increase in total care
giving hours associated with a younger child who was more physically and
mentally impaired, and who required more medical treatments. The amount of
time required by parents to care for their chronically ill children of necessity
results in lost opportunities. Because this burden is experienced primarily by
women and because professional nurses could alleviate some of the burden,
this issue deserves further study.
Crowe TK. (1993) conducted study on 45 mothers of young children with
multiple disabilities and significant functional impairments and 45 mothers of

children with Down syndrome were compared with 45 mothers of typically

developing children. It was found that mothers of children with multiple
disabilities spent significantly more hours on child-related activities than did
mothers of children with Down syndrome and controls.
Reinhard (1994) reported that Families of mentally ill persons often report
feeling burdened, helpless, and ignored by mental health professionals.
Controlling for the relative's disruptive behaviors and selected caregiver
characteristics, hierarchical multiple regression analyses demonstrated that
professional support selectively reduced burden. Practical advice on managing
disruptive behaviors reduced objective burden, in part by enhancing personal
control.
Oka (1998) indicated that: 1) The major source of strength for the mothers with
disabled children was the availability of a social support network, which
consisted mainly of their own mothers and grandmothers, 2) The mothers with
disabled children had insufficient time and little respite for themselves, and 3)
Emotional support from mothers who shared the same experiences was
effective for coping with problems associated with the acceptance of disabled
children. The support of health care professionals, however, had little effect in
helping the mothers who were under stress, though they could help to change
such mothers' attitudes.
Gosch (2001) explored that mothers of children with MR scored higher on the
acceptance scale than did mothers of children with MA. Moreover mothers of
children with WS displayed the highest scores on the hyperactivity, mood and
adaptability scales. Groups did not differ on the level of experienced
reinforcement from their child. No significant differences were found in the
Parent Domain according to the subscales attachment and social isolation.
Mothers of children with DS scored higher than the other groups on the scales:
depression, sense of competence and parent health.
Marika, V. (2001) showed that mothers of disabled children had significantly
lower Extraversion, Openness and higher Neuroticism than the norms for
Estonian women. The results demonstrated also that fathers of disabled

children

were

significantly

lower

in

Extraversion

and

Openness,

but

significantly higher in Conscientiousness than indicated in the norms for men.

Schwartz, C (2002) said all the parents reported receiving help and support
from their child, but perceived the satisfaction gained from fulfilling their
parental duties and from learning about themselves as far more important.
Their assessment of this satisfaction was entirely unaffected by the subjective
and objective burdens on them and the severity of the child's illness.
Pitman, E. (2004) in his study made a attempt Simplifying Mental Illness and
Life Enhancement Skills program, for children with a mentally ill parent or
sibling, is a 3-day program that aims to increase children's knowledge of
mental illness and to better equip them with life skills considered beneficial for
coping in their family.
Crowe TK. (2006) Examined

Significant differences were found between the

two groups when comparing mean hours spent per week by mothers in
occupations involving child-care activities and recreational activities. Mothers
of children with disabilities spent significantly more time in child-care activities
and significantly less time in recreational activities. In addition, mothers of
children with disabilities reported fewer typical days and rated the quality of
days as poorer. As children got older, the gap between the time mothers
devoted to child care increased between the two groups.
Dellve, L. (2006) found high parental stress, physical and emotional strain
among mothers, especially among single mothers. Fathers showed high stress
related to incompetence, which decreased after the intervention. Decreased
strain was found among full-time working mothers and fathers after the
intervention. Parents' perceived knowledge and active coping and mothers'
perceived social support were increased at follow-up.
Douma, JC. (2006) reported most parents (88.2%) needed some supports,
especially a friendly ear, respite care, child mental health care and information.
Parents who perceived both emotional and behavioural problems in their child
needed support the most. In addition, parents whose child had any of these
problems before the past year, who worried most about their child and suffered

from psychopathology themselves, more often, needed support. Parents of

children with moderate ID or physical problems especially needed 'relief care',
that is, respite care, activities for the child and practical/material help. The
need for a friendly ear was met most often (75.3%), whereas the need for
parental counseling was met least often (35.5%).
Briegel (2007) investigates that the primary caregivers experienced higher levels
of stress. In preschool children with Moebius sequence do not show essentially
increased rates of clinical behaviour problems. Nevertheless, their primary
caregivers experience increased stress and need early and adequate support.
Groholt (2007) showed a link between chronic illness and disabilities in
children and their parents' poor sense of coherence. High odds for a poor sense
of coherence were most common among parents of mentally disabled children
(OR = 2.05, KI = 1.14-3.69). Parents of children with chronic illness and
disabilities

scored

higher

for

the

dimensions

meaningfulness

and

comprehension, compared with parents who had children without such

problems.
Sen (2007) explored that families did not have enough knowledge about their
child's condition. Mothers felt severe sadness and they indicated that after
having a disabled child, their social life, working life and family relationships
were all affected. Families also have financial problems.
3. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROBLEM
From the review of related literature we come to know that Parents of mentally
retarded adolescent are suffering by many behavioral, social and emotional
problems. This study will try to explore the nature of problems face by the
parents, what type of problem they face in their regular life with their children.
So it will be helpful in parental counseling and help them in develop a realistic
approach toward their children. So this study will be an effort towards total
well being of the parents and their mental health. This study will help in
explore the causes of problems and help in provide remedies and treatment for
their better mental health of parents. It also helps in planning treatment and
rehabilitation for a chronically ill or disabled child. It helps in develop more

effective health care strategies to address the needs of children and their whole
family.
4. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
PSYCHO

SOCIAL

PROBLEMS

AMONG

THE

PARENTS

OF

MENTALLY

RETARDED CHILDREN
5. OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED
PSYCHO SOCIAL PROBLEMS: Problems which Involving both aspects social
and psychological behavior.
6. MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN:
7. OBJECTIVES
1. To reveal the impact of education mentally retardation the child on
psycho social problems face by the parents
2. To study the impact of education on psycho social problems face by the
parents of mentally retarded children
3. To give suggestion to eliminate reduce psycho problems among the
parents of mentally retarded children
8. DELIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
In total 25 case studies will be taken as sample of the study from Ludhiana
district of Punjab.
9. DESIGN OF THE STUDY
The present study will aim to find out the psycho social problems of parents of
mentally retarded children keeping in the mind the objectives of the present
study qualitative approach will be follow for present study. For that purpose
researcher will adopt case study method.
10. SAMPLING
The sampling frame will comprise all the parents of mentally retarded children
in the view all the objectives of present study the investigator collect the data
from parents of mentally retarded children of Ludhiana district these study was
conduct on 25 pairs of the parents of mentally retarded children in that study

research will take the help working with mentally retarded children purposive
sampling techniques will adopt for present study.
11. TOOLS
Information Sheet Will Be Prepared By Researcher To Get Basic Information
About The Parents Of Mentally Retarded Children.
12. PROCEDURE OF THE STUDY
In other to conduct the present study data will be collecting from parents of
mentally retarded children of Ludhiana district as it is impossible for
investigator to include all the parents of mentally retarded children of
Ludhiana district and present study is qualitative in nature as case study
method is very time consuming process there for only 25 pair of the parents of
mentally retarded children will selected the research will collect the data the
use of purposive sampling
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