Parent-to-parent peer support for parents of children with a disability: A mixed method study

Highlights

• Parents of a child with a disability can experience high psychological distress.

• Peer parenting support is valuable in fostering personal growth.

• Befrienders act as catalysts to nurture supportive meaningful relationships.

• Befriending positively influences parents’ psychological and emotional wellbeing.

Abstract

Objectives

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.

Conclusion

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.

Practice implications

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.