Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The purpose of the present study was to examine the perception of the parental experience of parents of children with disabilities using metaphors. This study was conducted in Israel with a group of 150 parents of children with a variety of disabilities participated in the study. The research tool was a questionnaire in which the parents were asked to present a metaphor that best expresses their personal perception of parenting a child with a disability. In the analysis, four themes were determined: "Pressure cooker, race and survival" - the difficulties of coping during growth; "New and unknown journey" - an unknown journey that includes learning and surprises; "A roller coaster with ups and downs" - the fluctuations in raising a child with a disability; and "Empowering gift" - the positive aspects of parenting a child with a disability. Most of the metaphors focused around the themes of the difficulties of coping and fluctuations in raising a child with a disability. The research findings may mainly help multi-professional teams to develop awareness of the parents' experience and formulate ways of assistance and support that will lead to coordinated and collaborative work with them.
Authors: Greenbank Alicia, Menzin Daniela
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7123935255