Researchers: Muhammad Igbariya¹

Background: The act of diagnosing a mental illness amongst one of the children in the family changes the family balance, burdens it with a heavy stigma and makes parental care more difficult. The influence of the disease on the family and parents was researched in relation to the subjective burden concept.

Objectives: The research examines how Arabic, Islamic mothers describe and experience the subjective burden that is cast upon them in light of treating the harsh mental disability of their children. Furthermore, it examines the cultural and influences of cultural motives in the construction of the motherly burden experience.

Method: The research included 30 married Arabic mothers who live in the state of Israel. They were part of a 'purposeful' sample. The research interview included 19 qualitative questions, in addition to a socio-demographic questioner containing 16 questions. The findings analysis was preformed according to the qualitative methodology, and according to the Grounded Theory of Strauss and Corbin.

Findings: Found six areas that affected the motherly burden: the religious factor; the types of motherly emotions; the perception of the illness; contact with professionals` stigma` and changes in the Arabic family.

Conclusions: The research findings highlighted the different influence of cultural factors towards the subjective burden. Mostly, these factors led to an aggravation of the motherly burden experience. In fact, the clear influence of religion, stigma, opinion about the disease, and contact with professionals strengthened the assumption which views mental disabilities a phenomenon of constructive, cultural and social interaction.

Recommendations: These findings helped the understanding of the unique motherly needs and thus helped develop specific intervention programs focused at giving an answer to the consequences of the motherly burden, in addition to helping form a macro-level policy to the Arab society.

Research end date: 07/2017