Lucy Blake1, Lucy Bray1, Bernie Carter2. 1. Faculty of Health and Social Care, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK. 2. Faculty of Health and Social Care, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK. Electronic address: bernie.carter@edgehill.ac.uk.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study explored the influence of a parent-to-parent peer support scheme on the wellbeing of parents of disabled children or children with additional need who joined a befriending scheme. METHODS: A longitudinal concurrent mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) research design collected data (telephone interviews, Footsteps Tool, Resilience Scale-14) with 33 befriendees (1:1 or group support) and 33 befrienders at time-point 1 (TP1). TP2 data were collected from 20 befriendees and 16 befrienders 6-9 months after recruitment. RESULTS: There was some improvement on average scores between TP1 and TP2 on both tools. The strongest evidence of change - 'a sense of positivity and hope' and 'connection, belonging and sharing' - was in the parents' reports of how the scheme helped them to build secure and valued social connections within a community of other parents who understood their lives. CONCLUSION: Both the befriendees and befrienders reported the sense of hope and a feeling of belonging as key benefits that resulted from the social connections they gained from the scheme. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Social connectedness is likely to be a more useful concept than resilience in examining change.
OBJECTIVES: This study explored the influence of a parent-to-parent peer support scheme on the wellbeing of parents of disabled children or children with additional need who joined a befriending scheme. METHODS: A longitudinal concurrent mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) research design collected data (telephone interviews, Footsteps Tool, Resilience Scale-14) with 33 befriendees (1:1 or group support) and 33 befrienders at time-point 1 (TP1). TP2 data were collected from 20 befriendees and 16 befrienders 6-9 months after recruitment. RESULTS: There was some improvement on average scores between TP1 and TP2 on both tools. The strongest evidence of change - 'a sense of positivity and hope' and 'connection, belonging and sharing' - was in the parents' reports of how the scheme helped them to build secure and valued social connections within a community of other parents who understood their lives. CONCLUSION: Both the befriendees and befrienders reported the sense of hope and a feeling of belonging as key benefits that resulted from the social connections they gained from the scheme. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Social connectedness is likely to be a more useful concept than resilience in examining change.