Calidad de vida y sobrecarga en madres de niños y adolescentes con discapacidad: Revisión narrativa

Abstract

Caring for children and adolescents with disabilities transforms family dynamics and affects the health and quality of life (QOL) of primary caregiver mothers. This narrative review aims to describe the scientific evidence regarding the experience of caregiving burden and the QOL of primary caregiver mothers of children and adolescents with disabilities. A search was conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and EBSCO through May 2026. After applying the eligibility criteria, 17 original primary studies were included. The evidence showed that caregiving burden is a multidimensional phenomenon that compromises physical, psychological, and social health, negatively impacting their quality of life. The main associated factors were the child’s functional and technological dependence, behavioral problems, multiple disabilities, poverty, low income, limited availability of support networks, and the feminization of caregiving. In contrast, social support, the child’s school attendance, a higher level of education, and structured psychological interventions were identified as protective factors. In conclusion, there is a need to strengthen public policies, comprehensive care models, and support strategies that recognize mothers who are caregivers as recipients of care and promote shared responsibility for caregiving.