Lucy Bray1, Bernie Carter2, Caroline Sanders3, Lucy Blake4, Kimberley Keegan5. 1. Faculty of Health and Social Care, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK; Children's Nursing Research Unit, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK. Electronic address: brayl@edgehill.ac.uk. 2. Faculty of Health and Social Care, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK; Children's Nursing Research Unit, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK. Electronic address: bernie.carter@edgehill.ac.uk. 3. Children's Nursing Research Unit, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK; University of Northern British Columbia, Canada. Electronic address: Caroline.Sanders@unbc.ca. 4. Faculty of Health and Social Care, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK. Electronic address: lucy.blake@edgehill.ac.uk. 5. Children's Nursing Research Unit, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK. Electronic address: k.keegan@lancaster.ac.uk.
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.
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.
Authors: Joёlle Castellani; Omari Kimbute; Charles Makasi; Zakayo E Mrango; Aggie T G Paulus; Silvia M A A Evers; Pip Hardy; Tony Sumner; Augusta Keiya; Borislava Mihaylova; Mohammad Abul Faiz; Melba Gomes Journal: J Dev Phys Disabil Date: 2021-10-02
Authors: María Inmaculada Fernández-Ávalos; María Nieves Pérez-Marfil; Rosario Ferrer-Cascales; Francisco Cruz-Quintana; Violeta Clement-Carbonell; Manuel Fernández-Alcántara Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-11-23 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Michelle Chakraborti; Mojgan Gitimoghaddam; William H McKellin; Anton Rodney Miller; Jean-Paul Collet Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2021-11-23