Assessment of Family Support Needs Among Parents of Children with Intellectual Disability Using NIMH-FAMNS Scale

Abstract:

Background: Families raising children with intellectual disability (ID) face multidimensional challenges spanning information, financial, emotional, and social domains. Structured need assessment is essential for targeted intervention planning.

Objective: This study assessed family support needs among parents of children with intellectual disability using the National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped Family Assessment of Needs Scale (NIMH-FAMNS, Parents version).

Methods: A purposive sample of six families with intellectually disabled children participated. The NIMH-FAMNS (Parents) scale, comprising 45 items across 15 need domains with a maximum score of 112, was administered to parent-respondents. Area-wise and total need scores were computed and analysed descriptively.

Results: Across the six families, 67% (n=4) expressed needs related to information about the child’s condition, 50% (n=3) required information on child management, and 50% (n=3) reported financial support needs. Individual respondent scores ranged from 58% (65/112) to 93% (104/112) of the maximum possible, indicating moderate-to-high unmet need. The Financial domain recorded the highest area score, followed by Family Relationship and Personal-Emotional domains.

Conclusion: Parents of children with ID demonstrate wide-ranging, high-priority support needs, particularly in information provision, child management guidance, and financial assistance. NIMH-FAMNS is an effective tool for profiling these needs and guiding goal-directed family intervention.

Keywords: Intellectual disability, NIMH-FAMNS, family needs assessment, parental support, intervention goals, family-centered care