"This is a Spiritual Experience": perspectives of Latter-Day Saint families living with a child with disabilities.
The presence of a child with disabilities elicits a variety of stress demands on the family. Religion is recognized as a powerful personal, family, and cultural variable. However, little is known about the influence of religion in dealing with disability among families within particular religious groups. This descriptive study explored themes of spiritual belief and religious support among families of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS, or Mormon) with a child with developmental disabilities. Parents shared perspectives of meaning that emerged from experiences with religion and family beliefs perceived to be unique. The core theme, "This is a Spiritual Experience," provides the foundation for a descriptive model that depicts aspects of finding meaning and perceived transcendence.
Marshall
Elaine Sorensen
ES
College of Nursing, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA.
Olsen
Susanne Frost
SF
Mandleco
Barbara L
BL
Dyches
Tina Taylor
TT
Allred
Keith W
KW
Sansom
Nancy
N
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D034682:Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D005190:Family / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality; D014589:Utah