2025 Volume 45 Pages 444-453
Objective: To clarify the psychological process experienced by mothers of children (patients) with severe motor and intellectual disabilities, in institutions from the time they began to consider institutionalization for their child up until the present day.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 mothers of children (patients) with severe motor and intellectual disabilities currently institutionalized, and analysis was conducted referring to a grounded theory approach.
Results: The process of entrusting their children to an institution “did not change their responsibility as mothers to protect their children.” Based on “the responsibility as mothers to protect their children,” 11 categories were formed, including “anxiety about not being able to protect their children,” “thinking about whether to entrust their child to an institution,” “not even considering institutionalization,” and “having no choice but to entrust their children to an institution.” In addition, conflict and anguish regarding entrusting their children to an institution were also present in this process.
Conclusion: The results suggested that it is important to listen to the mothers’ thoughts and accept them as they are, while at the same time, understanding the current nature of the psychological state of the mothers in the process.
