Culture, Coping and Parents who Have a Child with a Disability

Culture, Coping and Parents who Have a Child with a Disability PDF Author: Helen Kothrakis
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 732

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Book Description
Various person and situation factors have been examined as they affect coping in parenting a child with a disability. However, little data exists on the extent to which cultural system influences coping of parents from diverse cultural backgrounds. Informed by Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) transactional model of stress and coping, and Triandis' (1995) concept of individualist/collectivist cultures, the current study examined the ways ofcoping of 62 mothers and fathers from two different cultural systems (Anglo-Australian [individualist] and Greek-Australian [collectivist]). The focus of research was to quantitatively identify the coping resources that were antecedents to the selection of coping strategies and to qualitatively examine the subjective experience of parents from two diverse cultural systems caring for a child with a disability. The relationship between coping resources (depression, self-esteem, social interest, marital relationship) and coping strategies (problem-focused, seeking social support, blame self, wishful thinking and avoidance) was examined using a battery of five questionnaires. The subjective experiences of the parents were elicited via semi-structured interviews. Analysis of the data revealed that depression was not associated with any of the coping strategies for either the mothers or the fathers in the sample. For mothers, associations were found between self-esteem and wishful thinking and avoidance, and between dyadic adjustment and blame self. Social interest was not associated with any of the coping strategies for mothers. Level of education made no difference in the use of coping strategies for mothers. For fathers, associations were noted between self-esteem and wishful thinking, between dyadic adjustment and problem-focused coping, seeking social support, wishful thinking and avoidance. Fathers with high education made more use of problem-focused coping and fathers with low education differed in the use of wishful thinking and avoidance from the high education fathers. Mothers and fathers differed in their use of seeking social support as a coping strategy, with mothers seeking more social support than fathers. Cultural differences were found between fathers in the use of problem-focused and wishful thinking and avoidance coping strategies. Anglo-Australians used more problem-focused coping than their Greek-Australian counterparts. Greek-Australian fathers used more wishful thinking and avoidance than the Anglo-Australian fathers. Anglo-and Greek-Australian mothers did not differ in their use of coping strategies. Qualitative findings indicated both etic and emic experiences. Similar sources of stress, appraisals, coping resources and coping strategies characterised both groups' experiences of caring for their child with a disability. For Greek-Australian mothers and fathers, references to family, responsibility and stigma identified their collectivist cultural background. For the Anglo-Australian mothers and fathers, references to work, social networks and marital relationship identified their individualist cultural background. Overall, the results of the present study supported the relevance of the use of coping resources (social interest, self-esteem, depression, dyadic adjustment) in the study of ways of coping with child disability; and, supported the presence of differences in coping, both between gender, and between membership in a culturally diverse system. It is suggested that future research continues to investigate these resources using populations from other cultural groups and longitudinal designs so that their role in influencing coping under lifelong and uncontrollable circumstances with non-normative populations might be better understood. It is further suggested that health professionals take into consideration cultural differences and factor them into the care of culturally diverse families with children with a disability.

Culture, Coping and Parents who Have a Child with a Disability

Culture, Coping and Parents who Have a Child with a Disability PDF Author: Helen Kothrakis
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 732

Get Book Here

Book Description
Various person and situation factors have been examined as they affect coping in parenting a child with a disability. However, little data exists on the extent to which cultural system influences coping of parents from diverse cultural backgrounds. Informed by Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) transactional model of stress and coping, and Triandis' (1995) concept of individualist/collectivist cultures, the current study examined the ways ofcoping of 62 mothers and fathers from two different cultural systems (Anglo-Australian [individualist] and Greek-Australian [collectivist]). The focus of research was to quantitatively identify the coping resources that were antecedents to the selection of coping strategies and to qualitatively examine the subjective experience of parents from two diverse cultural systems caring for a child with a disability. The relationship between coping resources (depression, self-esteem, social interest, marital relationship) and coping strategies (problem-focused, seeking social support, blame self, wishful thinking and avoidance) was examined using a battery of five questionnaires. The subjective experiences of the parents were elicited via semi-structured interviews. Analysis of the data revealed that depression was not associated with any of the coping strategies for either the mothers or the fathers in the sample. For mothers, associations were found between self-esteem and wishful thinking and avoidance, and between dyadic adjustment and blame self. Social interest was not associated with any of the coping strategies for mothers. Level of education made no difference in the use of coping strategies for mothers. For fathers, associations were noted between self-esteem and wishful thinking, between dyadic adjustment and problem-focused coping, seeking social support, wishful thinking and avoidance. Fathers with high education made more use of problem-focused coping and fathers with low education differed in the use of wishful thinking and avoidance from the high education fathers. Mothers and fathers differed in their use of seeking social support as a coping strategy, with mothers seeking more social support than fathers. Cultural differences were found between fathers in the use of problem-focused and wishful thinking and avoidance coping strategies. Anglo-Australians used more problem-focused coping than their Greek-Australian counterparts. Greek-Australian fathers used more wishful thinking and avoidance than the Anglo-Australian fathers. Anglo-and Greek-Australian mothers did not differ in their use of coping strategies. Qualitative findings indicated both etic and emic experiences. Similar sources of stress, appraisals, coping resources and coping strategies characterised both groups' experiences of caring for their child with a disability. For Greek-Australian mothers and fathers, references to family, responsibility and stigma identified their collectivist cultural background. For the Anglo-Australian mothers and fathers, references to work, social networks and marital relationship identified their individualist cultural background. Overall, the results of the present study supported the relevance of the use of coping resources (social interest, self-esteem, depression, dyadic adjustment) in the study of ways of coping with child disability; and, supported the presence of differences in coping, both between gender, and between membership in a culturally diverse system. It is suggested that future research continues to investigate these resources using populations from other cultural groups and longitudinal designs so that their role in influencing coping under lifelong and uncontrollable circumstances with non-normative populations might be better understood. It is further suggested that health professionals take into consideration cultural differences and factor them into the care of culturally diverse families with children with a disability.

Parenting Matters

Parenting Matters PDF Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309388570
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 525

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Book Description
Decades of research have demonstrated that the parent-child dyad and the environment of the familyâ€"which includes all primary caregiversâ€"are at the foundation of children's well- being and healthy development. From birth, children are learning and rely on parents and the other caregivers in their lives to protect and care for them. The impact of parents may never be greater than during the earliest years of life, when a child's brain is rapidly developing and when nearly all of her or his experiences are created and shaped by parents and the family environment. Parents help children build and refine their knowledge and skills, charting a trajectory for their health and well-being during childhood and beyond. The experience of parenting also impacts parents themselves. For instance, parenting can enrich and give focus to parents' lives; generate stress or calm; and create any number of emotions, including feelings of happiness, sadness, fulfillment, and anger. Parenting of young children today takes place in the context of significant ongoing developments. These include: a rapidly growing body of science on early childhood, increases in funding for programs and services for families, changing demographics of the U.S. population, and greater diversity of family structure. Additionally, parenting is increasingly being shaped by technology and increased access to information about parenting. Parenting Matters identifies parenting knowledge, attitudes, and practices associated with positive developmental outcomes in children ages 0-8; universal/preventive and targeted strategies used in a variety of settings that have been effective with parents of young children and that support the identified knowledge, attitudes, and practices; and barriers to and facilitators for parents' use of practices that lead to healthy child outcomes as well as their participation in effective programs and services. This report makes recommendations directed at an array of stakeholders, for promoting the wide-scale adoption of effective programs and services for parents and on areas that warrant further research to inform policy and practice. It is meant to serve as a roadmap for the future of parenting policy, research, and practice in the United States.

Professional Collaboration with Parents of Children with Disabilities

Professional Collaboration with Parents of Children with Disabilities PDF Author: Louise Porter
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1861561741
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 228

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Book Description
The work of professionals with children with disabilities affects the children's family, while events at home affect what professionals can achieve with the children. This text describes how professionals can form collaborative relationships with the parents of the children in their care, to optimise the children's development and to enable both family members and professionals to work in the children's interests. It describes experiences of families who have a child with a disability and takes a new look at old assumptions that disability necessarily has a negative effect on families or that families themselves are in need of therapy simply by virtue of having a child with additional needs. This text offers practical insights and guidelines for action by teachers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech pathologists and psychologists. It is a practical text that enables practitioners to offer a high-quality service to children while supporting the family in its role of nurturing their child with special needs.

A Multicultural Examination of the Relationship Between Coping and Well-being in Parents of Children with Disabilities

A Multicultural Examination of the Relationship Between Coping and Well-being in Parents of Children with Disabilities PDF Author: Erin Kiku Okumoto
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 207

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Book Description
Prior coping literature has typically focused on Western models, with an emphasis on changing one's environment or situation from an individualistic perspective. However, alongside the increasing cultural diversity in the U.S., there has been a recent movement towards examining collectivistic models of coping in reaction to the exclusion of cultural orientations that consider one's impact on relationships in managing stress. People of Color who have children with disabilities are a highly vulnerable group given their barriers to services and experienced stigma from outside and within their cultural communities. Using the Double ABCX Model (McCubbin & Patterson, 1983) as a framework, this study explored the relationship between caregiver stress and well-being outcomes, while testing the mediating effects of coping. The sample consisted of 386 caregivers of children with disabilities. The majority of the sample were female (96%). Participants completed self-report questionnaires to assess for family strains, stigma, coping, and well-being. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to determine the effects of Individualistic and Collectivistic coping strategies on well-being for both European Americans and People of Color. Engagement, Disengagement, and Collectivistic Coping strategies significantly predicted overall Well-Being. Coping was a partial mediator for many of the relationships between Pile-up factors and Well-Being. People of Color endorsed Collectivistic Coping strategies to a greater degree than European Americans. Results from this study demonstrate the use of bi-cultural coping amongst Caregivers of Color and highlight the utility and importance of considering coping and well-being from a cultural lens in working with this population at large.

The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology and Disability

The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology and Disability PDF Author: Michael L. Wehmeyer
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0195398785
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 561

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Book Description
This handbook is the first comprehensive text on positive psychology and disability. Emphasizing paradigmatic changes in understanding disability, the text covers traditional disciplines in positive psychology; and applications of positive psychology to domains like education or work.

Families, Disability, and Empowerment

Families, Disability, and Empowerment PDF Author: George H. S. Singer
Publisher: Brookes Publishing Company
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 456

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Book Description


Dr. Seth's Love Prescription

Dr. Seth's Love Prescription PDF Author: Seth Meyers
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 144050914X
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 208

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Book Description
The landscape of love is littered with people injured by love time and time again. And so they hobble from one bad relationship to another. But it doesn't have to be that way. Noted psychologist Seth Meyers, PsyD--aka Dr. Seth--has developed a foolproof four-step cure for Relationship Repetition Syndrome (RRS). With this book, you can avoid making the same mistakes in your love life over and over again. With behavioral exercises and questionnaires designed to reveal the RRS behaviors that sabotage love, you'll learn why your relationships have failed, and how you can love more wisely--and happily--the next time. Armed with Dr. Seth's unique love action plan, you can put the pain of dead-end relationships behind you and find true love that lasts--forever cured of RRS!

School-Parent Collaborations in Indigenous Communities

School-Parent Collaborations in Indigenous Communities PDF Author: Iris Manor-Binyamini
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461489849
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 219

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Book Description
Poverty. Lack of social support. Limited access to education. High risk for health problems. Indigenous communities face an inordinate number of hardships. But when children have special needs, these problems multiply exponentially, making existing difficulties considerably worse. School-Parent Collaborations in Indigenous Communities: Providing Services for Children with Disabilities begins with an in-depth overview of indigenous experience and psychology, and situates disabilities within the contexts of indigenous communities and education services. The pilot study at the core of the book, conducted among the Bedouins of southern Israel, shows this knowledge in action as special education personnel engage parents in interventions for their children. Going beyond facile concepts of cultural sensitivity, the model recasts professionals as cultural mediators between school and family. This practice-oriented information has the potential to improve not only the well-being of children and families, but of the greater community as well. Featured in the coverage: Unique characteristics of indigenous communities and children with disabilities. Psychological models of reactions to disability. Benefits of multidisciplinary teams. Factors affecting collaboration between indigenous parents of children with disabilities and school professionals. Core principles of indigenously attuned collaboration. An extended case study on collaboration between parents of children with disabilities and school professionals in a Bedouin community. School-Parent Collaborations in Indigenous Communities is a breakthrough resource for researchers, graduate students, and professionals working with special needs children in child and school psychology, international and comparative education, social work, cross-cultural psychology, public health, and educational psychology.

Ordinary Families, Special Children

Ordinary Families, Special Children PDF Author: Milton Seligman
Publisher: Guilford Publications
ISBN: 1462532322
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 450

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Book Description
This popular clinical reference and text provides a multisystems perspective on childhood disability and its effects on family life. The volume examines how child, family, ecological, and sociocultural variables intertwine to shape the ways families respond to disability, and how professionals can promote coping, adaptation, and empowerment. Accessible and engaging, the book integrates theory and research with vignettes and firsthand reflections from family members.

Strategies for Working with Families of Young Children with Disabilities

Strategies for Working with Families of Young Children with Disabilities PDF Author: Paula J. Beckman
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 280

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Book Description
The early interventionist's search for a guidebook to family-centered services is rewarded with this sensitive and down-to-earth resource from Paula Beckman. The practice-oriented volume shows professionals how to improve their ability to support both children and families.