Parents' descriptions and experiences of young children recently diagnosed with intellectual disability

• Aim: The aim of the present study was to explore the variation of parents' descriptions and experiences of their child that was recently identified to have an intellectual disability (ID). Methods: The study applied interpretative phenomenological analysis and analysis of narrative style looking at content and form of parental narratives. Data was collected from nine fathers and eight mothers through semi-structured interviews within 6 months following diagnosis. Results: Analysis revealed three factors indicating the parents' level of processing: (1) emotional expressions regarding the child - varying between limited (distanced or idealized) and balanced/affectionate; (2) experience of the disability - varying between preoccupation and acceptance; and (3) time orientation - varying in terms of flexibility and temporal focus. Conclusions: Although parents of children with ID describe negative emotions in relation to the child and the disability, most of these parents also describe positive emotions that seemed to balance the negative experiences. © 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Child disability; Intellectual disability; Parent; Parent perceptions; Qualitative

Psychology

Psykologi

Psychology

Psykologi

Barn- och ungdomsvetenskap

Child and Youth studies

expressed emotion

mothers

representations

behavior

families

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)