Challenges Faced by Parents in Raising Children with Special Needs: A Narrative Literature Review

Abstract

Parents raising children with special needs face interconnected psychological, physical, social, financial, and service-related challenges. This narrative literature review aimed to synthesize evidence on parental difficulties, influencing factors, coping strategies, and support needs. Fifteen empirical studies published between 2019 and 2026 were selected through eligibility screening and qualitative appraisal. Data were extracted using a structured matrix and analyzed through thematic narrative synthesis. The findings showed that parents commonly experienced emotional distress, fatigue, stigma, social isolation, financial pressure, employment disruption, family strain, and limited access to healthcare, rehabilitation, and inclusive education. The severity of these challenges was shaped by the child’s condition, parental knowledge, coping capacity, family support, socioeconomic status, cultural beliefs, geographical location, and service accessibility. Parents used acceptance, information seeking, spiritual practices, advocacy, structured routines, and social support. The review highlights the need for continuous family-centered services integrating psychological, educational, financial, professional, workplace, and policy support. Ultimately, establishing robust policy frameworks and fostering cross-sectoral collaboration among healthcare providers, educators, and community leaders are essential to mitigate systemic barriers, alleviate caregiver burnout, and promote holistic family resilience. Furthermore, future empirical research must prioritize longitudinal methodologies to evaluate the sustainable real-world efficacy, accessibility, and scalability of culturally tailored intervention programs across diverse socioeconomic landscapes.