Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Difficulties of care-work reconciliation: employed and nonemployed mothers of children with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- CHOU Yueh-Ching, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 37(3), September 2012, pp.260-268.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Compared to the normal, but temporary, demands of child care that most mothers face, caring for a child with learning disabilities may lead to a very different experience in care and work reconciliation. This study investigated the differences in experience between these two groups. A survey was conducted in a county in Taiwan and 487 mothers, aged 65 or less. Except for the common ground of mothers' health and care demands, findings revealed that work flexibility and care support were important for employed mothers. In contrast, the success of reconciliation for non-employed mothers was determined by their individual characteristics such as age, marital status, and family income. The authors concluded that reconciliation policies for mothers with different employment statuses need to use different strategies. Implications for practice are discussed.
Caring for a daughter with intellectual disabilities in managing menstruation: a mother's perspective
- Authors:
- CHOU Yueh-Ching, LU Zxy-Yann Jane
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 37(1), March 2012, pp.1-10.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Parents and carers of women with intellectual disability (ID) may encounter difficulties when dealing with menstruation management. The focus of research in this area has been largely on reducing family carer burden by preventing menstruation through the use of menstrual suppression medication or surgery. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore mothers' experiences and perceptions of managing their daughters' menstruation. Twelve Taiwanese mothers of 13 daughters with ID were interviewed to explore their experiences of providing help to their daughters with high support needs during menstruation. All the mothers reported that their daughters needed complete menstrual assistance. Support networks were limited and mothers developed their own strategies for managing their daughter's menstruation. Surgical hysterectomy or use of medication to cease or postpone menstrual bleeding was never considered. The financial cost of menstrual pads and nappies was significant. The article concludes that both an appropriate allowance for families involved in the menstrual care of women with ID and access to appropriate support are needed. More information and educational programmes need to be provided to relevant professionals and carers.
Respite care as a community care service: factors associated with the effects on family carers of adults with intellectual disability in Taiwan
- Authors:
- CHOU Yueh-Ching, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 33(1), March 2008, pp.12-21.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study examines the effects and associated factors of respite care, which was legislated as a community service for adults with an intellectual disability (ID) in Taiwan in 1997. A total of 116 family carers who live with an adult with ID and have utilised the respite care program were surveyed using standardised measures. The results suggest that the most notable effects of respite care include improvement in the carers' social support and life satisfaction, and relief of psychological stress and overall burden of care. The factors associated with these effects include the way the participants have used the respite care and the users' individual characteristics. How families used the respite care, whether the carers practised a religion, and where the families resided, were the most significant factors in determining the effectiveness of the respite. Suggestions are made for making access to information about the program more widely available, and for extending the availability and duration of the service.
Universal breadwinner versus universal caregiver model: fathers' involvement in caregiving and well-being of mothers of offspring with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- CHOU Yueh-Ching, KROGER Teppo, PU Cheng-yun
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 29(1), 2016, pp.34-35.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: The universal breadwinner model means both parents are employed; while the universal caregiver model implies that the father's hours of caregiving are equal or higher to those of the mother. This study aims to examine the hypothesis that the universal caregiver model is more related to the overall well-being of mothers of children with intellectual disabilities than the universal breadwinner model. Methods: Face-to-face interview surveys were conducted in 2011 in Taiwan with 876 working-age mothers who had an offspring with intellectual disabilities. The survey included 574 mothers living with their husbands who became participants. Results: Both anova and regression analyses indicated that, compared with mothers in the universal breadwinner group, mothers in the universal caregiver group had higher levels of maternal marital and family life satisfaction, but not of work satisfaction and quality of life. Conclusions: An incentive policy is critical for supporting the fathers involved in lifelong caregiving and to promote the mothers' quality of life. (Edited publisher abstract)
Health status, social support, and quality of life among family carers of adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) in Taiwan
- Authors:
- CHOU Yueh-Ching, CHIAO Chi, FU Li-Yeh
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 36(1), March 2011, pp.73-79.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Several studies have indicated that having an adult with severe intellectual disability in the family is associated with a major increase in caregiving demands. Profound intellectual and multiple disabilities is characterised by an individual who is diagnosed with a low IQ and more than one disability. The aims of this study were to describe the characteristics of the primary family carers of adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities, and then to provide a profile of carer health, social support and quality of life for them in comparison to primary family carers of adults with less severe intellectual disabilities. 796 family primary carers in Hsinchu City in Taiwan were interviewed. Analysis of the data showed that health status, formal social support, and quality of life of carers of adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities were significantly lower than carers of adults with less severe disability, with these variables significantly associated with carer educational level, employment status, family income, and social networks. The researchers conclude that family carers of adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities from lower socioeconomic status groups have become the most vulnerable and have higher support needs. They suggest that future studies should incorporate qualitative and longitudinal components to explore and observe the conditions and unique needs among adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities and their family carers.
Predictors of female worker attitudes towards menstruation and the provision of help to institutionalized women with intellectual disabilities in Taiwan
- Authors:
- CHOU Yueh-Ching, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 67(4), August 2008, pp.540-543.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
No previous research has examined the importance of both individual and environmental factors for predicting caregivers' menstrual attitudes. To explore the predictors of female caregivers' attitudes towards menstruation and the help they give to women with intellectual disabilities, we conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey which was completed by 725 female workers from 12 institutions in Taiwan. The Menstrual Attitudes Questionnaire (MAQ) and a structured questionnaire were used. Logistic regression analysis revealed that individual characteristics such as age and education were significantly associated with menstrual attitudes of female caregivers working with institutionalized women with intellectual disabilities. Furthermore, the environmental context, such as the frequency of discussions with colleagues, training in menstrual management care and the level of difficulty when giving help in menstruation management, was important for improving caregivers' menstrual attitudes. This study contributes to the existing literature by determining both individual and environmental predictors of caregivers' menstrual attitudes.