Relationship between caregiver time and mental health&well-being of mothers caring for children with chronic disability

Funded Activity Summary

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has calculated that the dollar value of unpaid caring labour is approximately double the total (monetary) welfare service expenditure in Australia. Furthermore, most authorities predict that the need for informal care will grow as the population ages and as government policies continue to emphasize de-institutionalisation and care in the community. A significant group of these informal caregivers are mothers caring for children with chronic disabilities. These mothers have long been known to have higher rates of psychosocial problems than other mothers. However, little is known about the mechanisms by which these problems arise. This is a significant omission, as the potential benefit of home-based care for children with chronic disabilities will only be realised if caregivers remain healthy. It seems unlikely that caregivers will be able to provide effective care for children if their own health has been compromised by the demands of caring for the children's disabilities. The present study will provide new information about the relationship between the caregiving time mothers must spend caring for children with chronic disability, and maternal psychological adjustment and health-related quality of life. A better understanding of the mechanisms which give rise to maternal psychosocial problems in this population is important for two reasons. First, information in this area is an essential prerequisite for the development of effective support to reduce the problems experienced by primary caregivers and ensure they can play an effective ongoing role in the care of children with chronic disability. Second, at a theoretical level there is a great need to obtain a better understanding of the mechanisms by which environmental stressors give rise to mental health problems, particularly depression, in the general population.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2006

End Date: 01-01-2008

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $355,127.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Public Health and Health Services

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

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Other Keywords

Autism | Autism Spectrum Disorders | Cerebral Palsy | Child Health | Child and youth | Chronic Illness | Maternal and Child Health | Maternal health | Parenting

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