Stress, coping and adjustment over time in parents of children born with special needs

Abstract

The main aim of this research study is to investigate how parents of children with special needs experience stress and how they adjust to stressors. The research question to be tackled is: ‘What is the experience of parents of a child with special needs?’. Specific attention was given to the challenges, stresses, coping and adjustment of parents of children born with a disability. Semi structured interviews were carried out with five participants that have a child with special needs and the data collected was analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The main themes that evolved from the interviews are shock, doubt, acceptance, worrisome thoughts, exclusion, and positive experiences reached by the parents. The findings have highlighted the unique reality lived by parents as well as their experiences with regard to having a child with special needs. The effects identified in this study indicate that increased knowledge is needed about this topic in a local setting.