PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES EXPERIENCED BY THE PARENTS OF SPECIAL CHILDREN IN GUJRANWALA: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Families' mental, social, and financial well-being are greatly impacted by the difficult and emotionally taxing experience of raising a child with special needs. This qualitative study investigates the various difficulties these parents encounter through the through the eyes of qualified psychologists who collaborate closely with them. The results show systemic delays in intervention, social stigma and isolation, deep emotional struggles like denial, anxiety, and emotional burnout, as well as the strains of caregiving and financial obligations. To put the data in context, the study makes use of pertinent psychological frameworks like Bowen's Family Systems Theory, Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory, and Lazarus and Folkman's Stress and Coping Theory. The findings highlight the There is an urgent need for inclusive policies, thorough mental health support, early diagnosis, and increased public awareness. In addition to being crucial for their own wellbeing, empowering parents via support networks also has a major positive impact on the growth and upbringing of children with special needs.