Beginning the Transition to Adulthood

Abstract

This qualitative study focused on the experiences of six 20- to 23-year-old persons with cerebral palsy and their parents during the transition to adulthood and explored perceived changes in their relationship. Using semi-structured interviews, three interrelated themes emerged: (a) perceptions of readiness for increased autonomy, (b) opportunities for the young adults to make independent decisions and learn from life experiences, and (c) shifting parental roles. The youths' autonomy related to parental perceptions of their readiness and push for autonomy, the parent's personal beliefs and readiness to support the changing relationship, and the parents' needs for separation from the child. In some families of youths requiring ongoing support for personal care, finances were a barrier to altering relationships with their child.

The use of the concept of transition in different disciplines within health and social welfare: An integrative literature review

“…In interdisciplinary research, transition in daily life mostly concerned the management of long-term diseases such as diabetes (Rasmussen, O'Connell, Dunning, & Cox, 2007), the transition to adulthood with disabilities or diseases (Magill-Evans, Wiart, Darrah, & Kratochvil, 2005), or the transition from pregnancy to postpartum (Olshansky & Sereika, 2005).…”

‘Thinking about myself?’ Experiences of parents of adolescents with cerebral palsy: A qualitative study to guide the implementation of a service for families

“…The caregivers in this study had difficulty thinking about actions aimed at their personal aspirations. According to Magill‐Evans et al (2005), parents may undergo a transition in their own lives during their children's transition to adulthood. When asked about their own future, the parents pointed out that the adolescents' achievement of autonomy in adulthood was seen as a possibility for parents to re‐establish the occupational roles that were interrupted in the past.…”

“…These services propose actions focused on the adolescents' needs. However, authors have emphasized the importance of actions that also address the parents' needs to support them in the challenges they experience as caregivers of adolescents with disabilities (Magill‐Evans et al, 2005; Murphy et al, 2007; Stewart et al, 2002, 2006), which are not addressed in the available services. The aim of this study was to understand how parents of adolescents with CP experience their children's adolescence and the adolescents' transition to adulthood and to identify components for the development of a support service for families in Brazil.…”

“…In a qualitative study, parents of young adults with physical disabilities reported that the shift from paediatric services to adult-oriented services, the completion of school education and the lack of community services for young adults to get involved in generated feelings of frustration and fear (Stewart et al, 2002). Magill-Evans et al (2005) reported an increase in interpersonal conflicts between parents and adolescents. Such conflicts may arise from the parents' difficulties in finding a balance between the level of assistance they provide to the adolescent and the desire for them to perform daily activities independently (Magill-Evans et al, 2005).…”

Transition-Age Young Adults with Cerebral Palsy: Level of Participation and the Influencing Factors

“…It has been previously reported that young adults with CP participate less in activities, such as housing, paid work, and intimate and sexual relationships than their able-bodied peers [9,10,11], and in terms of finances and activities, many are dependent on parental support [12]. Participation has been defined as involvement in a life situation [13], and for patients with CP, enhancement of participation may lead to a more effective transition to adult life [14,15,16], whereas unemployment, decreased autonomy, and insufficient quality of life may be the consequences of an unsuccessful transition process [17,18]. Specific transition rehabilitation programs have been developed in European countries, such as the Netherlands [19] and the United Kingdom [20].…”