INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES,
ENGINEERING & PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

Binoy Checkonthayil & Dr Rupashree Khubalkar

RTM Nagpur University

The study aimed at understanding about the coping strategies used by mothers who have children with moderate mental retardation. Participants of the study consisted of 120 mothers with moderate mental retarded children residing in the states of Maharashtra and Kerala. Data was collected through a semi-structured interviewing technique conducted using Family Assessment Schedule. Data collected was later analysed using the technique of thematic analysis. Study finds two major types of coping strategies used by mothers of mental retarded children. They include social coping resources and personal coping resources. Social coping resources include informal social support, instrumental social support and emotional social support. Personal coping resources includes an emotional dimension, cognitive dimension, behavioural dimension and spiritual dimension. Study also finds that mothers residing in Kerala who have male children with mental retardation have better coping mechanism.