Skip to main content
Log in

Parents of Children with Disabilities: Resilience, Coping, and Future Expectations

  • Published:
Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

On the basis of characteristics of family resilience, the study examined the perspectives of parents of children with an intellectual, physical, or learning disability. Thirty-two parents were interviewed as to past, present, and the modes of coping. The questions examined various aspects of family ecology domains: parents' responses to the child's diagnosis; patterns of adjustment; family support and services used by parents; and parents' feelings and future expectations. Although, it was found that most parents had to make changes in their social life and expressed high levels of frustration and dissatisfaction, many try to maintain their routine life. The majority expressed the need for a strong belief in the child and in the child's future, an optimistic outlook, and a realistic view and acceptance of the disability. The study highlighted the importance of social resources and support, and the need for effective programs of intervention.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Bachay, J. B., and Cingel, P. A. (1999). Restructuring resilience: Emerging voices. Affilia 14: 162–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blacher, J. (1984). Sequential stages of parent adjustment to the birth of a child with handicaps: Facts or artifact? Ment. Retard. 22: 55–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bower, A. M., and Hayes, A. (1998). Mothering in families with and without a child with disability. Int. J. Disabil. Dev. Educ. 45: 313–322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dumont, M., and Provost, M. A. (1999). Resilience in adolescents: Protective role of social support, coping strategies, self-esteem, and social activities on experiences of stress and depression. J. Youth Adolesc. 28: 343–363.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falik, L. H. (1995). Family patterns of reaction to a child with a learning disability:Amediational perspective. J. Learn. Disabil. 28: 335–341.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freedman, R., and Boyer, N. C. (2000). The power to choose: Support for families caring for individuals with developmental disabilities. Health Soc. Work 25: 59–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawley, D. R., and DeHaan, L. (1996). Toward a definition of family resilience: Integrating life span and family perspectives. Fam. Process 35: 283–298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lardieri, L. A., Blacher, J., and Swanson, H. L. (2000). Sibling relationships and parent stress in families of children with and without learning disabilities. Learn. Disabil. Q. 23: 105–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lincoln, Y. S., and Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic Inquiry, SAGE, Beverly Hills, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Littrell, J., and Beck, E. (1999). Perceiving oppression: Relationships with resilience, selfesteem, depressive symptoms, and reliance on God in African-American homeless men. J. Sociol. Soc. Welfare 26: 137–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyons, R. F., Mickelson, K.D., Sullivan, M. J. L., and Coyne, J. C. (1998). Coping as a communal process. J. Soc. Pers. Relation. 15: 579–605.

    Google Scholar 

  • Margalit, M., and Heiman, T. (1986). Family climate and anxiety of families with learning disabled boys. J. Am. Acad. Child Psychiatry 25: 841–856.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marvin, R. S., and Pianta, R. C. (1996). Mothers' reactions to their child's diagnosis: Relations with security and attachment. J. Clin. Child Psychol. 25: 436–445.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quine, L., and Paul, J. (1985). Examining the causes of stress in families with severely mentally handicapped children. Br. J. Soc. Work 15: 501–517.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rimmerman, I., and Duvdevani, A. (1996). Parents of children and adolescents with severe mental retardation: Stress, family resources, normalization, and their application for outof-home placement. Res. Dev. Disabil. 17: 486–494.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roach, M. A., Ormond, G. I., and Barratt, M. S. (1999). Mothers and fathers of children with Down Syndrome: Parental stress and involvement in children. Am. J. Ment. Retard. 104: 422–436.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, M., and Darling, R. B. (1989). Ordinary Families Special Children, Guilford Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tangri, P., and Verma, P. (1992). A study of social burden felt by mothers of handicapped children. J. Pers. Clin. Stud. 8: 117–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turnbull, A. P., and Turnbull, H. R., III (1990). Families, Professionals, and Exceptionality: A Special Partnership, Rev. edn., Merrill, Columbus, OH.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valentine, D. P., McDermott, S., and Anderson, D. (1998). Mothers of adults with mental retardation: Is race a factor in perceptions of burdens and gratification? Fam. Soc. 79: 577–584.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waggoner, K., and Wilgosh, L. (1990). Concerns of families of children with learning disabilities. J. Learn. Disabil. 23: 97–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, F. (1996). The concept of family resilience: Crisis and challenge. Fam. Process 35: 261–281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werth, L. H., and Oseroff, A. B. (1987). Continual counseling intervention: Lifetime support for the family with a handicapped member. Am. J. Fam. Ther. 15: 333–342.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tali Heiman.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Heiman, T. Parents of Children with Disabilities: Resilience, Coping, and Future Expectations. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities 14, 159–171 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015219514621

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015219514621

Navigation