정신지체아 부모의 보호부담과 그 사회적 지지에 관한 실증적 연구

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to survey the burden, socio-psychological and policy needs of mentally retarded children's parents and thereby, explore the ways to support them effectively. The results of this study can be summarized as follows; First, mentally retarded children's parents feel a heavy psychological burden for rearing their children, while being highly attentive to the possibility of a sudden accident. While they have a deep affection for their mentally retarded children, they suffer from their children. Second, mentally retarded children's parents tend to discuss their children's matter with their spouses in most cases, and they feel negative when they have to consult social welfare specialists, doctors or special teachers for their children. Third, the parents feel a heavy financial burden for their children's rehabilitation, and perceive that the government should support them financially. Also, they are concerned much about some possible benefits in terms of rehabilitation cost and housing. Based on the above findings, the following suggestions are put forwards; First, in order to effectively support mentally retarded children's parents for their children's rehabilitation, it is required of relevant specialists to continue to develop the supporting programs. Second, central and local autonomous administrations are obliged to respect parents', spouses' or other guardians' opiruons when designing a policy for mentally retarded children's welfare, and provide for appropriate services to the children in consideration of parents' income level and degree of retardation. Third, it is necessary to develop professional counselling programs whereby mentally retarded children can appeal to specialists for their negative emotion and thereby, can feel stable psychologically. Moreover, such programs may allow for personal counselling, group counselling, treatment of family members, psychological treatment and other professional services. Fourth, in order to change people's perception of the handicapped children, it is essential to develop the programs for community people as well as the programs for parents and neighbors. Fifth, it is deemed desirable to dispatch service people to mentally retarded children's homes or deploy volunteers at their homes periodically.