Adult Children with Developmental Disabilities: The Impact on the Mothers

This qualitative study discussed and evaluated the affect adult children with developmental disabilities have upon their mothers. Extensive research has been done on children with disabilities and the impact upon their mothers, but little has been done regarding the adult children. Interviews were conducted with 5 mothers of adult children with developmental disabilities through the use of a snowball sample. The results indicated the mothers had mostly positive feelings towards their adult child. However, the study also found many of the mothers had unresolved grief issues regarding the raising of their adult child. The findings give implications to the social service field as to how social workers provide service to mothers of adult children with developmental disabilities