Perceptions of caregivers of children with intellectual disabilities regarding the concept of care: research using metaphor analysis method

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the metaphorical perceptions of caregivers of children with intellectual disabilities regarding the concept of care. Data were collected from 122 caregivers primarily responsible for children attending special education programs. The researchers utilized a metaphor questionnaire form to gather responses, prompting participants to complete the sentence "Taking care of a child with intellectual disabilities is like & mldr;& mldr;& mldr;. because & mldr;& mldr;" The participants generated 31 metaphors. The most prevalent ones related to caregiving perceptions included patience and effort (11.5%), fighting spirit (8.2%), and affection (8.2%). These metaphors were categorized into four conceptual categories. Positive metaphors were classified under "divine and sacred perception" and "love and commitment," while negative metaphors fell under "care and dependency" and "patience and resilience." Conclusion: The study underscores the potential impact of caregivers' perceptions on the caregiving burden. Recommendations include providing targeted support to caregivers with negative perceptions, enhancing their coping mechanisms, and offering psychosocial support for stress and anxiety management. Additionally, it is advised to periodically assess caregivers' metaphorical perceptions and conduct similar studies with different samples of caregivers of children with special needs. What is Known:center dot Having a child with an intellectual disability is an emotional burden for all family members, a stressful life experience, and requires ongoing coping strategies.center dot The perceived care burden of family members with mentally disabled children is an important factor affecting the mental health levels of caregivers.What is New:center dot This section should briefly summarize the existing knowledge or consensus on the topic. It should not be a comprehensive literature review, but rather a concise statement of the key findings or established principles.center dot Focus on the most relevant and impactful prior research directly related to your study.