Resilience of Parents Raising Children With Intellectual Disabilities

Author First name, Last name, Institution

• Dimitra V. Katsarou, University of the Aegean
• Evangelos Mantsos, University of Western Macedonia
• Efthymia Efthymiou, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi CampusFollow
• Maria Sofologi, University of Ioannina
• Georgios A. Kougioumtzis, University of Thessaly
• Asterios Patsiaouras, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Document Type

Book Chapter

Source of Publication

Health Psychology in Practice Exploring Behavior Meaning and Resilience

Publication Date

7-29-2026

Abstract

This chapter explores the dynamic process of resilience among parents raising children with intellectual disabilities (ID), emphasizing the interplay between stress, adaptation, and growth. It examines how chronic caregiving demands, systemic barriers, and social stigma affect parental well-being, while highlighting the coping mechanisms—problem-focused, emotion-focused, and meaning-focused—that sustain psychological balance. Integrating ecological and family resilience frameworks, the chapter identifies key protective factors such as parental self-efficacy, social support, optimism, family cohesion, and cultural or spiritual beliefs. It argues that resilience is a relational and systemic process fostered through supportive family dynamics, inclusive policies, and community engagement. Ultimately, the chapter reframes parental resilience as both a personal strength and a societal responsibility, essential for promoting well-being and inclusion in families of children with intellectual disabilities.

DOI Link

10.4018/979-8-3373-6294-6.ch004

ISBN

[9798337362946, 9798337362960]

Publisher

IGI Global Scientific Publishing

First Page

77

Last Page

96

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Keywords

Psychology (0.65) | Coping (psychology) (0.65) | Developmental psychology (0.52) | Raising (metalworking) (0.51) | Psychological resilience (0.51) | Family resilience (0.46) | Social psychology (0.46) | Intellectual disability (0.45) | Stigma (botany) (0.4) | Affect (linguistics) (0.37) | Child rearing (0.34) | Resilience (materials science) (0.33) | Family life (0.31) | Social support (0.31) | Inclusion (mineral) (0.3) | Social change (0.28) | Process (computing) (0.27) | Social isolation (0.26)

Scopus ID

105048070967

Recommended Citation

Katsarou, Dimitra V.; Mantsos, Evangelos; Efthymiou, Efthymia; Sofologi, Maria; Kougioumtzis, Georgios A.; and Patsiaouras, Asterios, "Resilience of Parents Raising Children With Intellectual Disabilities" (2026). All Works. 8309.
https://zuscholars.zu.ac.ae/works/8309

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no