Psychological Challenges and Coping Strategies among Caregivers of Children with Disability (Divyang Children): A Systematic Review Analysis

Abstract

Background: Children with Disabilities, referred to as ‘Divyang’ in India constitute a significant section of the population that requires continuous caregiving and support. The process of caring for children with disabilities is a long and exhausting process, which exposes caregivers to a high level of psychological distress. Previous literatures on caregivers concentrated mostly on the burden of caring. Hence, there is an emerging need to integrate literature concerning psychological challenges and coping mechanisms employed by caregivers, which play a critical role in enhancing their resilience and psychological well-being. Objectives: The present review aims to (i) examine psychological challenges experienced by the caregivers of children with disabilities, and (ii) identify coping strategies employed by the caregivers to manage those challenges. Methodology: The systematic literature review was used as the study design, and multiple sources including Google Scholar, CrossRef, PubMed, NCBI, ResearchGate, and SpringerLink were employed in this study. Literatures concerning psychological challenges and coping strategies among caregivers of children with disabilities were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study and synthesized thematically. Results: A total of 53 studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in the review analysis. Findings indicated that caregivers experience significant psychological challenges while employing various coping strategies to deal with those demands. The study highlights the significance of targeted psychosocial interventions that may enhance long-term wellbeing among the caregivers.