發展遲緩兒在成長過程中需倚賴主要照顧者長期照護,故主要照顧者之生活品質受到許多關注。本研究採問卷調查法,由心理、生理、社會關係等多面向的角度,探討六歲以下發展遲緩兒及一般兒主要照顧者之生活品質,及影響遲緩兒主要照顧者生活品質之預測因子,以提供相關衛教政策參考。本研究收案對象為六十二位發展遲緩兒及六十位一般兒童的主要照顧者。 研究結果發現,遲緩兒主要照顧者之生活品質在心理、生理、社會關係及環境面向皆與一般兒主要照顧者無明顯差異,亦即遲緩兒童家庭的生活品質不低於正常發展孩童的家庭。係因主要照顧者在照顧特殊需求孩子過程中,通常採以滿足幼兒的安適感,犧牲自身需求之『委身原則』,評價其生活品質。因此,遲緩兒童家庭主要照顧者具有更大的承受力與適應能力。另外,複迴歸分析結果顯示,家中子女數、可協助照顧人數及家庭月收入,係影響遲緩兒主要照顧者生活品質的預測因子。最後,建議臨床照護人員面對遲緩兒家庭時,除提供服務於遲緩兒本身外,亦應注意主要照顧者在照護期間的整體生活品質及心理照護需求,並給予正向心理建設。
This research assumed the children with developmental delay would depend on chronical care and therefore their primary caregiver would has less quality of life. By means of questionaire and interview, 62 caregivers of delayed children and 61 of healthy children were examined for the qualitative of life. Suprizingly, two groups were found no statistical difference with each other, which means quality of life of the primary caregiver with delayed child is not lower or higher than with normal child. We conclude the ''commitment principle'' in which the primary caregiver of the child with developmental retardation has developed stronger endurance to adjust the pressures of his or her life. Following the finding, this study suggests that clinicians should pay attention to the psychological dimension of primary caregivers with delayed child and encourage the positive retreat of their life.