発達障害児者を抱える養育者の心理的体験に関する研究の動向

In recent years, social interest in developmental disorders has increased, and the need for support for people with developmental disabilities and their families from an early stage has been pointed out. This paper specifically reviews previous research on the psychological experiences of caregivers of children with developmental disabilities. It has been pointed out that caregivers of children with developmental disabilities experience high levels of childcare stress. This has negative effects on their mental health, such as anxiety and depression. Furthermore, it is known that the effects on caregivers are wide-ranging, including family relationships and time and financial burdens. Caregivers who are affected in this way experience many emotional conflicts such as anger and self-blame in their daily lives. Attitudes toward children change with social support and deepening knowledge about disabilities, but the psychological effects change depending on the development of the child and last for a long time. In addition, experiences such as marital crises and peer pressure can put caregivers at risk of becoming socially isolated. In the future, we will focus on psychological support that take into account the fact that caregivers of children with developmental disabilities have complex psychological experiences not only in their relationships with their children, but also in their relationships with those around them while providing daily care.