How do mothers and fathers who have a child with a disability describe their adaptation/ transformation process?
This qualitative study explored the adaptation/transformation process in mothers and fathers at the individual, parental, marital and extrafamilial levels, and the similarities and differences in their experience of living with a child with cerebral palsy. Interviews were conducted with 13 mothers and 13 fathers of children with cerebral palsy. The results show that mothers and fathers are more likely to view the situation differently than similarly. For both parents, the situation offers the potential for transformation. Complementarity between mothers and fathers is an important factor in each of the adaptation or transformation subsystems. Both parents embark on a journey that changes their beliefs about difference, apply their new knowledge to every aspect of their life, and endeavour to normalize their situation.
Pelchat
Diane
D
Faculty of Nursing, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. diane.pelchat@umontreal.ca
Levert
Marie-Josée
MJ
Bourgeois-Guérin
Valérie
V
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology