Arab mothers' involvement with their offspring with severe intellectual disabilities after placement in institutional care

This study examines the cognitive-behavioral and emotional involvement among 81 Israeli Arab mothers after placement of their offspring with severe intellectual disabilities in institutional care, with respect to mothers' and offspring's background data and measures of divisional roles in the Arab family. Core findings indicate that the most important predictors of maternal cognitive and behavioral involvement are the existence of psychiatric disability in addition to intellectual disability, and the offspring's duration of stay in institutional care. These predictors were poorer in explaining maternal emotional involvement. Findings are interpreted with respect to social work research and practice with Israeli Arab families.