Journals Information
Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 5(3), pp. 254 - 267
DOI: 10.13189/sa.2017.050308
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The Study on the Psycho-social Issues and Challenges of Children with Mental Retardation: A Case Study
Birhanu Moges *
Department of Psychology, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Arsi University, Ethiopia
ABSTRACT
A lot has been written about the psycho-social issues and challenges of children with mental retardation. The aim of this research is to investigate the impact of psycho-social issues and challenges of children with mental retardation. The study utilized qualitative research tools to explore the deep feelings of the participants. Purposive sampling technique and case study employed as a major study tools. The study used in-depth interview, observation and FGD. The collected data were organized and analyzed through qualitative research approach by using thematic analysis. Findings obtained from the study showed that children with mental retardation are facing different psychosocial challenges like stigma, discrimination, isolation, blame, shame, frustration, feeling of upset, self-insult, loneliness, losing respect, despairing (feeling of no hope), insult, anger and sadness. The study also found that the perception parents of children with mental retardation regarding the causes of retardation was changed from religious beliefs to possible causes of mental retardation as a result of the rehabilitation services. Further, praying, helping each other, reaction formation (insulting who insulted them), developing wishful thinking, and limiting one's interaction were some of the mechanisms explored from this study. The study finally concludes some measures to curb the negative belief systems of the communities towards the children with mental retardation. The study has a great implication for social work practice in the area of policy formulation, advocacy, community mobilization, empowerment, service provision, assessment and research in the areas of disability.
KEYWORDS
Children, Mental Retardation, Psychosocial, Issues & Challenges, Family Perspectives
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Birhanu Moges , "The Study on the Psycho-social Issues and Challenges of Children with Mental Retardation: A Case Study," Sociology and Anthropology, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 254 - 267, 2017. DOI: 10.13189/sa.2017.050308.
(b). APA Format:
Birhanu Moges (2017). The Study on the Psycho-social Issues and Challenges of Children with Mental Retardation: A Case Study. Sociology and Anthropology, 5(3), 254 - 267. DOI: 10.13189/sa.2017.050308.