Caregiving of offspring with intellectual developmental disabilities in Israeli Jewish and Arab households: Financial and psychosocial differences.
Arab caregivers of children with intellectual disability in Israel face tighter budgets and use fewer public services than Jewish peers.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Gur et al. (2020) asked Arab and Jewish caregivers of children with intellectual disability about money stress and service use. They used a survey in Israel. The team compared the two groups on income, use of public help, and feelings like stress and support.
What they found
Arab caregivers said they earn less money and use fewer public services than Jewish caregivers. Culture and income did not mix to change stress or support levels. In short, Arab families get less help and feel more financial strain.
How this fits with other research
Viljoen et al. (2021) looked at 33 studies and saw that parent views in low-income countries focus on outside barriers like cost and travel. Ayelet’s Arab families echo this: low income and low service use go together.
Ku et al. (2022) compared U.S. and South Korean parents of kids with developmental disabilities. They also found country shapes support, but they looked at physical-activity help instead of money. Both papers show culture changes what parents can give.
Acar et al. (2021) reviewed 24 studies in China, Taiwan, and Turkey. Few programs trained parents as active helpers. Ayelet’s data add that when services are already scarce, minority parents have even less chance to take part.
Why it matters
If you serve Israeli families, check if Arab caregivers know about free public services. Help them apply. Do not assume low income alone explains stress; culture and service gaps matter too. Share simple Arabic forms and bus maps. One extra phone call can open doors that money alone cannot.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: This research responds to the lack of evidence-based knowledge regarding the psychosocial and financial gaps among caregivers of children with intellectual disabilities living in Jewish and Arab households. It examines the financial gaps and explores whether caregivers' social economic status and households' affiliation (Jewish vs. Arab) can explain the psychosocial variables such as levels of stress, social participation types and rates, and use of public services. METHOD: One hundred and twenty-five Jewish and Arab caregivers completed an income and expenditure survey, including out-of-pocket expenditures, a services use survey, a questionnaire regarding resources and stress levels, and a social participation scale. RESULTS: Arab households are more likely to have a low socioeconomic status (SES) than Jewish ones, characterized by lower per capita income, less spending, fewer out-of-pocket expenditures, and less ability to deal with an unexpected expense. In respect to psychosocial measures, Arab caregivers report lower use of public services than Jewish caregivers and lean more toward contact with relatives and religious participation than do Jewish caregivers. Caregivers' social economic status and households' affiliation do not have any interaction effect on psychosocial variables. CONCLUSIONS: Findings are discussed regarding research and practice.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2020 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2019.103544