Impact of Child Caregiving Tasks on Pain & Fatigue: Results of a National Survey of Parents With Disabilities

Difficulties participating in child caregiving tasks can have a significant impact on parent well-being and mental health. Parents with physical disabilities report that physical caregiving tasks are difficult, fatiguing, and painful; and pain and fatigue contribute to stress. However, parents with disabilities may ignore pain and risk secondary injuries out of concerns that their ability to parent may be questioned if they ask for assistance, or due to lack of access to adaptive equipment and intervention. This descriptive survey research was part of a larger NIDILRR-funded project to support the development of online resources and educational materials for parents with disabilities and OTs. A convenience sample of parents in the U.S. with self-identified physical and vision disabilities, who had at least one child aged 5 years and under in the home, were included in the study. Participants were recruited through a variety of online sources, including state and national organization, list servs, and Facebook groups. The survey included sections on how childcare tasks affected pain and fatigue; adaptive equipment and adapted caregiving strategies; and experiences with OTs and other professionals. The survey was administered online via REDcap. Data (N = 69) was analyzed using descriptive statistics and χ2. Parents with a physical disability were more likely (p <0.001) to report pain and fatigue 3+ days per week and that pain and fatigue was worse or much worse from caregiving tasks. The top tasks contributing to pain and fatigue included lifting (42%), taking the child outside the home (38%), carrying, bathing, and transporting child such as to an appointment (33% each). Parents described a need for more services and adaptive equipment to support them in their parenting. These findings clearly indicate that parenting occupations contribute to significant pain and fatigue in parents with disabilities and highlight a clear area of need in occupational therapy practice.

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