title: Exploring the beliefs of Japanese mothers caring for a child with disabilities.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to describe the beliefs of Japanese mothers caring for a child with disabilities to advance knowledge about beliefs of Japanese families experiencing illness. A semistructured interview was conducted with eight mothers who had a child with disabilities (physical, intellectual, and/or developmental). The interview invited their reflections about "mutual thoughts of family members" and family relationships in the context of daily life of caring for a child with disabilities. Data were qualitatively analyzed inductively and deductively and compared with the Common Tentative Framework of Japanese Family Beliefs developed from previous research. The analyses highlighted new understandings of the influence of Japanese cultural and societal beliefs on the family's experience of having a child with disabilities. Clinical implications are discussed and directions for future research suggested.
authors.affiliation: Chiba University Graduate School of Nursing, Chiba, Japan naho.sato@faculty.chiba-u.jp.
authors.forename: Naho
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Chiba Rehabilitation Center, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.affiliation: Juntendo University, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryuko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: Ishikawa Prefectural Nursing University, Kahoku, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishigaki
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D005195:Family Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological
keywords: Illness Beliefs Model; Japan; beliefs; children with disabilities; family; mothers