Lived experiences of mothers of children with mild intellectual disabilities: A phenomenological study

Abstract

The present research investigated the lived experiences of mothers of children with mild intellectual disabilities in a central city in Iran. The research method was qualitative and phenomenological type. Eleven families were selected from males with intellectual disabilities who were graduated from secondary vocational centers through purposeful sampling and participated in in-depth semi-structured interviews. The data was analyzed by Colaizzi method. The main themes extracted from the interviews with mothers were: employment and financial independence; physical and mental health; sexual and marriage issues; and life after the death of parents. The results showed the lived experiences of mothers and their concerns regarding employment, marriage, sexual issues, physical and mental health, and the future of their children. The results recommended that the government should take steps to remove life obstacles for adults with intellectual disabilities by modifying the methods of education and rehabilitation of people with intellectual disabilities in the country. © The Author(s) 2025.