Peer-reviewed article
Connecting with other parents matters: potential buffering role of parents' group participation in the association between caregiving duration and mental health among 1,358 korean mothers caring for children with developmental disabilities.
Kim JY, Kim JH, Paeng EJ, Kim SS ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view ·Key points
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Abstract
Background It is well-known that mothers caring for children with developmental disabilities (DD) commonly suffer from social isolation. Connecting with other parents may play a critical role in the lives of mothers caring for children with DD. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1,358 mothers caring for children with DD who are under 19 in 2024. Caregiving duration was defined as years since diagnosis and categorized into five groups: 0-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12, and 13-18 years. Depressive symptoms and burnout were measured by CES-D 11 and Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, respectively. Parents' group participation was defined as attending disability-related parents' group activities at least once a month. The association between caregiving duration and mental health was examined, stratified by group participation. Results The association differed by whether mothers participated in parents' groups. Among participants, compared to the 0-3 years group, the prevalence ratios for depressive symptoms were 0.81 (95% CI: 0.68-0.97) for 4-6 years, 0.77 (95% CI: 0.61-0.97) for 7-9 years, 0.77 (95% CI: 0.60-1.00) for 10-12 years, and 0.74 (95% CI: 0.56-0.97) for 13-18 years. However, no association was observed among non-participants. Similar differential patterns were found in the analysis of burnout. Conclusions Participation in parents' group may play a potential buffering role in the association between caregiving duration and mothers' mental health.