Psychological Capital of Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability: A Comparative Study
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID) often face unique psychological and caregiving demands. Understanding their psychological capital—an internal resource comprising hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism—is essential for informing support systems and interventions. This study aimed to examine the levels of psychological capital among mothers of children with ASD and ID in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and to compare the levels between the two groups.
Materials and Methods: A descriptive research design was utilized in the study. The study participants were 297 mothers, including 140 mothers of children with ASD and 157 mothers of children with ID, from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The mothers, aged 40 to 62 years, had at least a secondary education and predominantly belonged to families with high socioeconomic status. Their children, aged 18 to 37 years, had mild levels of ASD or ID, with many enrolled in training and rehabilitation centers or employed. The Psychological Capital Scale, developed by the researchers, was used for data collection.
Results: Mothers in both groups showed strong psychological capital. Mothers of people with ASD and mothers of people with ID did not significantly differ in psychological capital, according to statistical analyses. These high levels of psychological well-being may have been influenced by contextual factors, such as children’s involvement in school or the workforce, mild disability severity, and strong socioeconomic status.
Conclusion: Despite the difficulties of providing care, mothers of people with ASD and ID in this sample showed significant psychological strengths. The results highlight the potential benefits of Saudi Arabia’s governmental support systems and emphasize the need for more studies with a wider range of participants to gain a deeper understanding of the factors that influence caregivers’ psychological capital.