Overview

• The survey of 400 parents of children with autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy and multiple disabilities underpins the study’s findings.
• Researchers used culturally adapted tools and advanced statistics to show that caregivers’ physical health shapes how stress impacts their mood, relationships and bodies.
• Sustained caregiving led many parents, especially mothers, to report chronic pain, headaches, ulcers, fatigue and deep emotional exhaustion.
• Social stigma, financial strain and limited specialized services in India intensify parents’ isolation and exacerbate their health challenges.
• The study’s authors urge policymakers to embed caregiver health checks in pediatric disability services and launch community-based one-stop support centers.