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India Today
11-07-2025
- Health
- India Today
NIT Rourkela study reveals health toll on parents of children with disabilities
A recent study by researchers at NIT Rourkela has brought attention to a pressing issue that often goes unnoticed, how raising children with developmental disabilities takes a serious toll on the physical and emotional well-being of parents, especially by Dr Ramakrishna Biswal, Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, along with senior research scholar Abhijit Pathak, the study explores how continuous caregiving can cause exhaustion, health problems, and emotional work was published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development. Surveying over 400 parents of children with autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, and multiple disabilities, the research found that the daily caregiving demands often lead to chronic headaches, fatigue, pain, ulcers, and a feeling of being emotionally worn impact on physical health, the study shows, is not just a result of stress, it can also make stress harder to manage, creating a feedback loop that further weakens a caregiver's capacity. STUDY URGES CAREGIVER SUPPORT FOR BETTER CHILD DISABILITY The researchers used the biopsychosocial model, which looks at how health is shaped by physical, psychological, and social forces together, not in findings reveal that while physical health is a key factor, financial pressures and social isolation also play major roles. Many parents, especially in India, struggle with stigma, lack of awareness, and minimal access to support on the findings, Dr Biswal said: 'Disability rights are increasingly recognised, but caregivers remain overlooked. Raising such children is not just a parental duty, it's a shared responsibility of the entire community.'The team recommends including caregiver health checks and stress support within paediatric disability services. They also suggest setting up community-based centres where families can access medical, mental, and financial help in one its heart, the study sends a clear message: when caregivers are supported, children thrive. Without that, families are left to cope alone, and too often, they do so in silence.- Ends
Hans India
10-07-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Disability services must include health screening, stress management for caregivers: Study
New Delhi: While there are rights for people with disabilities, parents or caregivers are often faced with stress that can significantly affect their physical, mental, and financial conditions, finds a study by researchers from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela, on Thursday. The study suggests providing parents or caregivers raising a child with developmental disabilities like autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with proper support systems for their well-being. Published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development, the team investigated how the continuous demands of caregiving impact parent's physical health, ultimately affecting their overall quality of life. The research showed that raising children with developmental disabilities presents unique and often lifelong challenges. It includes teaching basic self-care to manage behavioural and sensory difficulties, that can result in deep emotional exhaustion and physical symptoms such as headaches, ulcers, chronic pain, and fatigue, particularly among mothers. Importantly, the study found that while physical health partly explains how stress affects parents' health, it does not account for challenges such as financial strain. The researchers recommended integrating caregiver health screening and stress management into paediatric disability services. They also advocate for community-based 'one-stop' support centres where families can access medical, mental health, and financial support in one place. 'Disability rights are rightly acknowledged, yet the invaluable contributions of caregivers often remain in the shadows. Caring for a child with developmental disabilities should not rest solely on parents, it is a shared responsibility of family, neighbours, and society,' said Dr. Ramakrishna Biswal, Associate Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, NIT Rourkela. The team surveyed 400 parents of children with conditions like autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, and multiple disabilities. In India, these challenges are often intensified by social stigma, lack of awareness, and limited access to specialised care. Many parents feel isolated from their communities and are unable to receive support from extended family. Healthcare, therapy, and respite services remain limited in many regions. "Caregiving is a demanding journey, but with non-judgmental support and wholehearted cooperation from trusted individuals and communities, caregivers can find strength, relief, and validation. Let us recognise their rights and ensure they, too, enjoy a life of dignity and fulfillment," Biswal said.
