ABSTRACT

Developmental disabilities (DDs) that occur in early childhood can have long-lasting effects on an individual’s daily functioning. This paper emphasises the need for interventions for children with DDs and their families, as parents of children with DDs may experience high levels of strain and mental health symptoms. However, there is a lack of research on the impact of caregiver burden on Korean parents of children with DDs. Analyses were conducted to examine the mediating effects of mental health symptoms and social participation on the relationship between caregiver burden and quality of life (QoL). The results indicate that caregiver strain has a negative effect on QoL, and parental mental health symptoms and social participation mediate this relationship. The findings provide insights for practitioners in social work and special education involved with Korean parents of children with DDs and highlight the support systems needed to enhance their wellbeing.

摘要

儿童早期发生的发育障碍 (DD) 可能会对个人的日常功能产生长期影响。本文强调对 DD 儿童及其家庭进行干预的必要性，因为 DD 儿童的父母可能会经历高度紧张和心理健康症状。然而，目前缺乏关于照顾者负担对 DD 儿童的韩国父母影响的研究。我们进行了分析，以检验心理健康症状和社会参与对照顾者负担和生活质量（QoL）之间关系的中介作用。结果表明，照顾者的压力对生活质量有负面影响，父母的心理健康症状和社会参与调节了这种关系。