Subjective perceptions of stress and coping by mothers of children with an intellectual disability : a needs assessment

Date
2002-12
Authors
Hill, Frances
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: My study aims to explore the feelings of and coping strategies used by a group of mothers of young children with an intellectual disability. I used two validated questionnaires and, at a later date, a semi-structured interview with each research participant. My analyses of the questionnaires' data provided me with tentative themes for inclusion during the semi-structured interviews. The combination of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies resulted in the confirmation and expansion of some of the data, but contradictions between other data. I used lay theory as one explanation for the contradictory findings. My study found that the mothers of young children with an intellectual disability experience a range of feelings and use a combination of different coping strategies, a pragmatic coping style being common to all the participants. I conclude by acknowledging the inherent capabilities of my research participants and encouraging service providers to empower parents of young children with an intellectual disability.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie is die ondersoek van gevoelens en hanteringstrategiee van 'n groep moeders vanjong kinders met 'n kognitiewe gestremdheid. Ek het aanvanklik gebruik gemaak van twee geldige vraelyste en na afloop daarvan is 'n semigestruktureede onderhoud gevoer met elke deelnemer. Tentatiewe temas verkry uit geanaliseerde vraelys data is ook gebruik/ingesluit gedurende die semi-gestruktureede onderhoud. Die kombinasise van kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetttodologiee het gelei tot die bevestiging en uitbreiding van sekere data, maar was ook weer teenstrydig met van die ander data. Ek het leke teorie gebruik as verklaring vir die teenstrydighede. My studie het bevind dat hierdie moeders 'n wye verskeidenheid gevoelens ervaar en dat hulle ook van verskeie hanteringstrategiee gebruik maak. Die pragmatiese hanteringstyl was die mees algemene onder die deelnemers. Samevattend het ek erkenning verleen aan die inherente vermoens van die deelnemers en ook diensverskaffers aangemoedig om ouers van jong kinders met 'n kognitiewe gestremdheid te bemagtig.
Description
Thesis (MEdPsych)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.
Keywords
Stress (Psychology) -- Management, Children with mental disabilities -- Home care, Children with disabilities -- Home care, Dissertations -- Education, Theses -- Education
Citation