Role of Social Support in Mitigating Child Rearing Strain, Among Parents of Differently Abled Children: A Chain Mediation of Family Sense of Coherence and Family External Resources

Abstract

The family is considered a fundamental cornerstone of society, holding a significant influence over the development of individuals, their emotional well-being, and the overall cohesion of communities. Raising a differently abled child is a fundamental aspect of familial dynamics that encompasses a multifaceted range of obligations, choices, and affective commitments. In view of this, the current research was carried out with the aim of analysing the influence of child rearing strain on family adaptation, along with the mediation effect of family sense of coherence and family external resources. The current study was conducted using a quantitative research design with survey and cross-sectional research methods. Data were collected from parents of differently abled children between January 2023 and May 2023. The study's scope covered nine divisions of the Punjab province. Data collection was conducted using an interview schedule and carried out with the collaboration of the Punjab Welfare and Baitul Mall departments. The analysis was conducted after gathering data from 200 parents of differently-abled children. Multistage and convenient sampling techniques were applied for data collection. To analyse the mediation results, structural equation modelling was employed to determine the effect of predictor variables on the dependent variables of the study, considering the mediation effect. Based on the major findings of the study, it is concluded that child rearing strain is closely connected with family adaptation and family external resource variables. This suggests that child rearing strain could be mitigated if families had access to external resources and social support to cope with adverse situations.