Giving could be as important as receiving: the role of emotional and instrumental support in family interactions among Saudi Arabian families with children with disabilities

This study examines family quality of life (FQOL) in Saudi Arabian families with children who have disabilities, emphasizing the dual roles of giving and receiving social support, alongside economic factors. Prior literature highlights individual influences, including sociodemographic variables and types of disabilities, and identifies social support and resilience as significant contributors to FQOL. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 200 family members of children with intellectual disability (n = 142) or other disabilities (n = 58). Five domains of FQOL were measured: family interaction, parenting, emotional well-being, physical/material well-being, and disability-related support. Multiple regression analyses revealed that both giving and receiving emotional and instrumental support were significant predictors of family interactions, with giving support showing strong associations. Additionally, maternal education level was linked to emotional well-being and disability-related support, while higher monthly income correlated with improved physical/material well-being. The findings suggest the importance of evaluating FQOL predictors across specific domains, revealing that both giving and receiving support—particularly emotional support—play crucial roles in strengthening family interactions and parenting. Moreover, economic stability and maternal education level are essential for emotional and material well-being within these families.