Receiving or believing in family support? Contributors to the life quality of Latino and non-Latino families of children with intellectual disability

• Published in: Journal of intellectual disability research Vol. 58; no. 4; pp. 333 - 345
• Main Authors: Cohen, S. R., Holloway, S. D., Domínguez-Pareto, I., Kuppermann, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2014; Wiley-Blackwell; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; Cross-Sectional Studies; cultural beliefs; Culture; Ethnicity; Families & family life; familism; Family - ethnology; Family - psychology; family quality of life; Family support; Female; Hispanic Americans; Hispanic Americans - ethnology; Humans; Intellectual deficiency; intellectual disability; Intellectual Disability - nursing; Latin American people; Latinos; Learning disabilities; Male; Medical sciences; Mothers; Mothers - psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Quality of life; Quality of Life - psychology; Relatives; Social Support; support; United States > US; Social environment; Human; Belief; Handicap; familism; Developmental disorder; Mental retardation; Quality of life; cultural beliefs; Social interaction; Intellectual deficiency; Family environment; Familial relation; family quality of life; Latinos; Child; support; intellectual disability; Social support
• ISSN: 0964-2633; 1365-2788
• DOI: 10.1111/jir.12016

Background Previous studies have identified the role of family support in mitigating the stress of parents caring for a child with intellectual disability. Less is known about families whose members are willing but unable to support each other because of geographical, structural and economic barriers. Our study examined the contribution to family quality of life (FQL) of family support beliefs, actual assistance from family members, as well as the moderating effects of ethnicity and household income. Method We conducted telephone interviews with 84 Latino and 61 non‐Latino mothers. Results Mothers who received more emotional support from partners and other family members reported a higher FQL, controlling for family characteristics. Familism beliefs were also associated with FQL, particularly for Latino mothers. Income was not a significant moderator. Conclusions These findings suggest that some predictors of FQL are partially moderated by ethnicity, while others may be powerful across diverse communities.