Health status of mothers of adults with intellectual disability

A cross-sectional survey was conducted to describe the health of mothers of adults with intellectual disability (ID), and the influence of the mother's and her adult child's characteristics on her health. The sample consisted of 108 mothers divided into mid-life and later-life groups. Four service agencies mailed SF-36 forms and demographic questionnaires to their clients. The return rate from primary caregivers was 70%. The physical and the mental components of health of both groups of mothers were found to be similar to or better than those of their counterparts in the US national norms. Arthritis was found to influence the physical health of both groups of mothers. Employment was found to influence physical health of the mid-life mothers, while family income was found to influence mental health of the later-life mothers. The characteristics of adults with ID did not influence the mothers' health significantly. Mothers' caregiving for their adult children with ID might not be as detrimental to the mid-life mothers' physical component of health as it might be to the later-life mothers. Further studies are needed.