title: "This is a Spiritual Experience": perspectives of Latter-Day Saint families living with a child with disabilities.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: Elaine Sorensen
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Susanne Frost
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Mandleco
authors.forename: Tina Taylor
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Dyches
authors.forename: Keith W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Allred
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sansom
mesh_terms: 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