Keywords:
caregiving stress
psychological adaptation
counterfactual thinking

  • Abstract

    Historically, motherhood of a child with a disability by a divorced woman has been an integral yet understudied part of the social and psychological landscape. Mothers are often left to raise their children with disabilities on their own; however, their maternal experiences remain largely unheard, particularly within the Jordanian context. The present study aimed to examine the level of prevalence of Jouska Syndrome symptoms among divorced mothers of children with disabilities. This focus is especially significant in the Jordanian context, where mothers frequently face psychological, moral, and emotional pressures in fulfilling their maternal roles. The study sample consisted of 220 mothers of children with disabilities from the northern governorates of Jordan. The study employed a descriptive methodology and, to achieve its objectives, developed a Jouska Syndrome Scale. The instrument’s validity and reliability were verified. The findings revealed that the overall level of Jouska Syndrome symptoms among divorced mothers of children with disabilities was moderate. Furthermore, mothers of children with intellectual disabilities reported higher mean scores across all dimensions of Jouska Syndrome compared to mothers of children with other types of disabilities. Significant differences were also observed by educational level: mothers with lower educational attainment scored higher on Jouska Syndrome symptoms than those with higher levels of education. However, no statistically significant differences were found based on the mother’s age or economic status. This study underscores the importance of addressing the challenges faced by divorced mothers raising children with disabilities. It calls for adopting policies and interventions that support this group and improve their quality of life and that of their children. It is hoped that these findings will raise social awareness and highlight the needs of these mothers, thereby enhancing their ability to raise their children in a healthy, supportive environment.

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How to cite

Maberah, S., & Al-Rubb, M. A. (2026). The prevalence level of Jouska Syndrome symptoms among divorced mothers of children with disabilities: A descriptive study. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 9(10), 2026486. https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2026486
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