Differences and similarities between mothers’ and fathers’ experiences of parenting a child with a disability

Diane Pelchat · Hélène Lefebvre · MM Perreault

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Family and Disability Support Research Family Dynamics and Relationships Disability Rights and Representation

Abstract

This qualitative study used focus groups to identify the differences and similarities in the experiences of parents of children with a disability. Two main themes emerged, showing the ways in which the mothers and fathers are alike or different. One concerns roles, actual and expected, in the various subsystems of family life. The other concerns the normalization and stigmatization that arise because of the child's problem. Mothers tend to score better in terms of interpersonal and group communications. It would seem that the fathers' expectations are harder to fulfil than the mothers'. The fathers' expectations are attuned to the outer world; the actual day-to-day tasks related to the child's care are not their priority. The mothers are less demanding and their expectations are more self-focused. Interestingly, these families are similar to families of children without a disability; however, the difficulties they experience are accentuated by the presence of a child with a problem.

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References

1989Focus Groups: A Practical Guide for Applied Research 1992You just don't understand : women and men in conversation 1990The Focused Interview: A Manual of Problems and Procedures 2002normal-family-processes 1996Méthodes de recherche pour l’éducation 1999Gender, Household Labor, and Psychological Distress: The Impact of the Amount and Division of Housework 1991Comparison of mothers' and fathers' perceptions of the effect of young children with and without disabilities.2004Dictionnaire des méthodes qualitatives en sciences humaines et sociales

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