Parental Anxiety among Parents of Children with Special Needs: A Systematic Review of Contributing Factors
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55927/fjmr.v5i7.137Keywords:
Anxiety, Children With Special Needs, Physical, Mental, EmotionalAbstract
Children with special needs require extra parental attention to support their optimal growth and development. Children with special needs have many weaknesses in terms of physical, mental, emotional and social so that it often triggers anxiety of their parents. Anxiety of parents of children with special needs occurs because of the hope that children can grow and develop normally like children in general. This study aims to systematically review the factors causing anxiety of parents of children with special needs. This study uses the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method using PRISMA guidelines with a total of 20 articles reviewed. The search database through Google Scholar, Scopus and Semantic Scholar with English keywords "parent of children with disabilities AND anxiety AND risk factors OR determinant OR predictor." The journal search criteria are based on the years 2020-2025, participation of parents of children with special needs and the use of English and Indonesian. The results of the study indicate that there are several factors that cause anxiety in parents who have children with special needs, including parental expectations, feelings of failure to meet demands, burden of responsibility, low quality of life, not understanding children's needs, family conditions, tense relationships between families, difficulty dividing time with family, depression, stress, mental and emotional exhaustion, lack of social support, fear of being left behind in terms of education, type of disability, witnessing children's challenges and limitations, physical health and mental burden of parents.
References
Afidah, I., N., Rosyadah, I., F. & Putri, R., A. (2022). Analisis Gangguan Kecemasan Sosial Anak Berkebutuhan Khusus Pada Anak Usia Dini. Tinta Emas: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam Anak Usia Dini, 1(2), 167-184
Alurmei, W., Pohan, H., Azzahra, S., & Dewi, V. (2024). Tingkat Kecemasan Orang Tua Yang Memiliki Anak Berkebutuhan Dalam Menghadapi Kesiapan Masuk Sekolah Dasar. Jurnal Ilmiah Wahana Pendidikan, 10(17), 582-592. Https://Doi.Org/10.5281/Zenodo.13905990
Anand, A. K., Singh, H., Sharma, M., (2025). Family Dynamics, Community Support, And Psychological Distress Among Parents Of Persons With Disability. EPRA International Journal Of Research And Development (IJRD), 10(12)
Bokalial, D., Hossain, M. F., Kumar, N. S., Bajracharya, S. (2020). Effectiveness Of Community-Based Rehabilitation On The Lives Of Parents Of Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Mixed Method Study In Karnataka, India. The Association Of People With Disability, Bangalore, Karnataka, India, 31(3), 23-45
Brekke, I., Alecu, A. (2023). The Health Of Mothers Caring For A Child With A Disability: A Longitudinal Study. BMC Women's Health, Https://Doi.Org/10.1186/S12905-023-02798-Y
Chairijah, Z., Rahfiludin, M. Z., Mrgawati, A., Ediati, A. (2024). Parental Factors Related To COVID-19 Prevention Behavior In Children With Intellectual Disability: Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling. Journal Of Intellectual Disability - Diagnosis And Treatment, 12(3), 172-177
Chicoine, B., Rivelli, A., Fitzpatrick, V., Chicoine, L., Jia, G., Rzhetsky, A. (2021). Prevalence Of Common Disease Conditions In A Large Cohort Of Individuals With Down Syndrome In The United States. Journal Of Patient-Centered Research And Reviews, 8(2), 86-97
Davenport, S., Zolnikov, T. R., (2021). Understanding Mental Health Outcomes Related To Compassion Fatigue In Parents Of Children Diagnosed With Intellectual Disability. Journal Of Intellectual Disabilities, 1-13
Dizdarevic, A., Memisevic, H., Osmanovic, A., Mujezinovic, A., (2020). Family Quality Of Life: Perceptions Of Parents Of Children With Developmental Disabilities In Bosnia And Herzegovina. International Journal Of Developmental Disabilities, DOI: 10.1080/20473869.2020.1756114
Gayatina, A. K., Rosario, H. W., Ina, A. A. (2025). Gambaran Tingkat Kecemasan Pada Orang Tua Dengan Anak Cerebral Palsy Usia Sekolah. Jurnal Kesehatan Elisabeth, 2(2), 7-12
Ghufron, M. N., Risnawita, R. (2017). Teori-Teori Psikologi. Yogyakarta: Ar-Ruz Media
Gidion, H., Sitorus, P. B., Humayrah, Z. N. (2025). Kecemasan Orang Tua Yang Memiliki Anak Disabilitas Intelektual Di SLBN 4 Jakarta.. Jurnal Fisioterapi Terapan Indonesia, Vol. 4(2), 1-6, DOI: 10.7454/Jfti.V4i2.1120
Goswami, A. K. (2023). Parental Stress: An Analysis Of Empirical Evidence For Parents Of Intellectually Disabled Children- A Systematic Review. International Journal Of Emerging Knowledge Studies, 2(10), 469-476
Guney, M., Cinoglu, B. (2023). Perceived Parenting Skills That Immigrant Parents Of Children With A Disability, During The Covid-19 Pandemic. DOI: 10.14293/PR2199.000094.V1
Jabeen, S., Nouman, S., Ashraf, R., (2024). Impact On Family Functioning, Social Support And Psychological Distress In Parents Of Children With Intellectual Disability. Journal Of Research In Psychology (JRP), 2(1), 42-52
Jacob, U. S., Pillay, J., Oyundoyin, B. M., (2021). Quality Of Life Of Mothers Of Children With Intellectual Disability: Do Social Support, Maternal Stress And Socio Economic Status Play A Role?. Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat, 5(1), 001-018
Jandric, S., Kurtovic, A., (2021). Parenting Sense Of Competence In Parents Of Children With And Without Intellectual Disability. Europe’s Journal Of Psychology, 17(2), 75–91, Https://Doi.Org/10.5964/Ejop.3771
Kacan, H., Sakiz, H., Deger, V. B., (2021). Attitudes Promoting Coping With Death Anxiety Among Parents Of Children With Disabilities. Death Studies, DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2021.1955311
Kannur, D., Chauhan, A., (2025). Determinants Of Mental Health Among Parents Of Children With Disabilities. International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR), 7(4), 1-10
Lago, L., Elvstrand, H., Hellberg, K., (2020). Parenting Under Pressure: Raising School-Age Children With Disabilities During A Pandemic In Sweden. Journal Of Disability Research 27(1): 214–226. DOI: Https://Doi. Org/10.16993/Sjdr.1226
Leslie, R., Brown, A., Larsen, E. (2025). Parental Allyship For Children With Dyslexia: A Conceptual Lens On Disability Experience. Learning Disability Quarterly, 48(1) 3 –12
Messey, J., Harniess, P., Chinn, D., Robert, G. (2024). Barriers And Facilitators To Parent-Delivered Interventions For Children With Or Infants At Risk Of Cerebral Palsy. An Integrative Review Informed By Behaviour Change Theory. Disability And Rehabilitation, 47:2, 287-301, DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2024.2338193
Nasir, A., Rindayati. Susilowati, M. (2018). Hubungan Pengetahuan Dengan Tingkat Kecemasan Ibu Dalam Mendampingi Anak Berkebutuhan Khusus. Journals Of Ners Community, 9(02), 139-146
Oyeyemi, O. O., Moses, A., (2021). The Impact Of Parental Attitude And Practices Toward Children With Special Needs In Oyo State. Journal Of Positive Psychology And Counselling, 8
Phoenix, M., Jack, S. M., Rosenbaum, P. L., Missiuna, C. (2019). Parents' Attendance, Participation And Engagement In Children’s Developmental Rehabilitation Services: Part 1. Contextualizing The Journey To Child Health And Happiness. Disability And Rehabilitation, DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2018.1555617
Ramadhan, M. E. R., Astrawan, M. I. (2025). Analisis Deskriptif Dan Crosstabs: Kecemasan Pada Orang Tua Anak Berkebutuhan Khusus. Journal Of Communication And Social Sciences, 3(1), 35-46
Savari, K., Naseri, M., Savari, Y., (2021). Evaluating The Role Of Perceived Stress, Social Support, And Resilience In Predicting The Quality Of Life Among The Parents Of Disabled Children. International Journal Of Disability, Development And Education, DOI: 10.1080/1034912X.2021.1901862
Taylor, H. M. B., Cotter, C., Joyce, K. S. Reddihough, D. S., Brown, T., (2021). Fathers Of Children With A Disability: Health, Work, And Family Life Issues. Disability And Rehabilitation, DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2021.1910739
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Ismiyanti Ismiyanti, IGAA Noviekayati, Suhadianto Suhadianto

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.






























