title: Parent-to-parent peer support for parents of children with a disability: A mixed method study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper will report on the findings of a study which investigated the influence of a befriending (parent-to-parent peer support) scheme on parents whose children have a disability or additional need. The scheme operated from an acute children's tertiary setting in the UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective concurrent mixed method design collected interview (n=70) and questionnaire (n=68) data at two time-points from befrienders (n=13) and befriendees (n=26).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main qualitative findings of the study relate to the different degrees parents (befriendees and befrienders) moved from being lost, to finding and being a guide and getting to a better place. The quantitative findings demonstrate that parent-to-parent peer support has a positive influence on parents' levels of psychological distress and their ability to cope with being a parent of a child with a disability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The befriending scheme acted as a catalyst for many parents to move towards a place where they could grow and begin to flourish and thrive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Professionals should inform parents who have a child with a disability that peer-to-peer parenting support schemes are a valuable and appropriate source of support and help.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Social Care, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK; Children's Nursing Research Unit, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK. Electronic address: brayl@edgehill.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bray
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Social Care, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK; Children's Nursing Research Unit, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK. Electronic address: bernie.carter@edgehill.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Bernie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: Children's Nursing Research Unit, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK; University of Northern British Columbia, Canada. Electronic address: Caroline.Sanders@unbc.ca.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Social Care, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK. Electronic address: lucy.blake@edgehill.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.affiliation: Children's Nursing Research Unit, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK. Electronic address: k.keegan@lancaster.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kimberley
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Keegan
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010379:Peer Group; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012606:Scotland; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Befriending; Disability; Parent; Parent well being; Peer to peer parenting support