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Caregivers’ perspectives on the influence of psychosocial factors on their mental health in caring for children with intellectual disabilities in Eldorado Park
Mini-Dissertation (MSW) - University of Pretoria, 2025.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2025
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| _version_ | 1869484087759077376 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Bila, Nontembeko |
| author_browse | Bila, Nontembeko |
| author_facet | Bila, Nontembeko |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Mini-Dissertation (MSW) - University of Pretoria, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/107270 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-07-01T04:09:19.426Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/107270 Caregivers’ perspectives on the influence of psychosocial factors on their mental health in caring for children with intellectual disabilities in Eldorado Park Bila, Nontembeko sisykhuzwayo@gmail.com Ndlangamandla, Nondumiso Phumzile P UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Intellectual Disability Caregivers Family Caregiving Mental Health Psychological Well-being Mini-Dissertation (MSW) - University of Pretoria, 2025. ABSTRACT Caregiving for children with intellectual disabilities poses significant psychological, emotional, and physical challenges, often more severe than those facing caregivers caring for children without disabilities. In South Africa, the lack of standardised diagnostic tools and limited public awareness contribute to insufficient data on the prevalence of intellectual disabilities. This study explores the psychosocial factors influencing the mental health of caregivers raising children with intellectual disabilities in Eldorado Park. Guided by a constructivist research paradigm and employing a qualitative research design, the study was conducted at the Harvey Cohen Centre, an organisation offering services to children with intellectual disabilities. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with caregivers, using open-ended, exploratory questions to gain insight into their lived experiences. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory provides the theoretical framework for understanding how caregivers’ relationships within their social environments impact their mental health. The study successfully meets its objectives, which are to explore the psychosocial factors contributing to the mental health of caregivers, to identify the coping strategies they use to manage stress, to understand the sources of social support available to them and how these affect their well being, to examine the role of resilience in promoting mental health, and to provide recommendations for improving services offered to caregivers caring for children with intellectual disabilities. Eight key themes emerge from the data: understanding of intellectual disability, caregiving experiences, psychosocial impact, economic and structural challenges, cultural and religious influences, resilience and growth, and reflections and recommendations. The findings reveal that caregivers often begin their journey with confusion, emotional distress, and a lack of support. Over time, many achieve acceptance and demonstrate resilience, drawing strength from emotional commitment, religious faith, spousal and community support, and personal growth. Despite ongoing challenges such as social stigma, financial strain, and mental exhaustion, caregivers continue to display extraordinary perseverance. The study underscores the urgent need to strengthen mental health services and support systems for caregivers at multiple ecological levels. It recommends a collaborative, inclusive approach among service providers and policymakers, recognising caregivers as key stakeholders whose lived experiences and advocacy can inform programme development and systemic reform. Further research is encouraged to deepen understanding and enhance interventions that promote the mental well being of caregivers in similar contexts. Social Work and Criminology Master of Social Work in Healthcare Unrestricted Faculty of Humanities SDG-03: Good health and well-being SDG-10: Reduces inequalities 2025-12-18T08:34:12Z 2025-12-18T08:34:12Z 2026-04 2025-12-18 Mini Dissertation * April 2026 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/107270 10.25403/UPresearchdata.30908903 en © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Intellectual Disability Caregivers Family Caregiving Mental Health Psychological Well-being Caregivers’ perspectives on the influence of psychosocial factors on their mental health in caring for children with intellectual disabilities in Eldorado Park |
| title | Caregivers’ perspectives on the influence of psychosocial factors on their mental health in caring for children with intellectual disabilities in Eldorado Park |
| title_full | Caregivers’ perspectives on the influence of psychosocial factors on their mental health in caring for children with intellectual disabilities in Eldorado Park |
| title_fullStr | Caregivers’ perspectives on the influence of psychosocial factors on their mental health in caring for children with intellectual disabilities in Eldorado Park |
| title_full_unstemmed | Caregivers’ perspectives on the influence of psychosocial factors on their mental health in caring for children with intellectual disabilities in Eldorado Park |
| title_short | Caregivers’ perspectives on the influence of psychosocial factors on their mental health in caring for children with intellectual disabilities in Eldorado Park |
| title_sort | caregivers perspectives on the influence of psychosocial factors on their mental health in caring for children with intellectual disabilities in eldorado park |
| topic | UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Intellectual Disability Caregivers Family Caregiving Mental Health Psychological Well-being |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/107270 |