Occupational Performance Coaching for Mothers of Children with Disabilities in India

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Science
• Occupational Therapy
• Parenting Interventions

Background:

• Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC) is designed to assist mothers in managing their and their children's daily activities.
• Mothers of children with disabilities often face unique challenges in managing occupational performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of OPC in enhancing occupational performance and parenting competence.
• The study focused on mothers of children with disabilities within an Indian cultural context.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods design was employed, involving 36 mothers in intervention and control groups.
• Occupational performance and parenting competence were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up.
• Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews.

Main Results:

• OPC demonstrated statistically significant improvements in children's (p < 0.001) and mothers' (p < 0.001) occupational performance.
• Mothers in the intervention group showed significant gains in self-competence (p = 0.003) compared to the control group.
• Interviews highlighted themes of acceptance, self-learning, and challenges encountered during OPC.

Conclusions:

• Occupational Performance Coaching is an effective intervention for mothers of children with disabilities.
• The findings suggest OPC's adaptability and positive impact across different cultural contexts.
• OPC enhances both the child's and the mother's occupational functioning and the mother's confidence.