Learning from the experts: a thematic analysis of parent's experiences of attending a therapeutic group for parents of children with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour

Abstract

Accessible summary• Parent groups can be helpful for parents of children with learning disabilities and behaviour problems.• We talked to parents who had attended the 'Confident Parenting' group to find out what they thought about it.• They told us that the group helped them in lots of ways and think it would help other parents like them too. SummaryThe Confident Parenting group is a therapeutic group for parents of children with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour, which is informed by the principles of behavioural theory and acceptance and commitment therapy. Parent's experiences of the group were elicited through participation in a large focus group which followed a semistructured interview format with questions and discussion guided by the lead researcher. This aimed to elicit information about parent's overall experiences of attending the group and its perceived effectiveness. Thematic analysis was used to draw themes from parent's rich narratives. Four main themes were identified: (i) parent's pregroup narratives, (ii) barriers and solutions, (iii) positive aspects of Confident Parenting and (iv) positive outcomes of Confident Parenting. The themes highlighted how beneficial parents found Confident Parenting as well as raised helpful ideas about how to engage families where there are practical and personal barriers to attending.

‘I don’t feel like I’m in this on my own’: Peer support for mothers of children with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour

“…As described earlier, parents of children with intellectual disability and challenging behaviours frequently experience isolation and stigma (Griffith and Hastings, 2014; Thompson-Janes et al, 2014). Davies and Hall (2005) reported that parents with similar experiences can provide a model for positive coping with exceptional life circumstances.…”

“…Mead et al (2001: 6) define peer support as ‘a system of giving and receiving help founded on key principles of respect, shared responsibility, and mutual agreement of what is beneficial’. Peer support provides opportunities for families to obtain important information to inform decision-making and to build a network based on shared experiences (Daly et al, 2015; Davies and Hall, 2005; Hibbard et al, 2002; Solomon et al, 2001; Thompson-Janes et al, 2014).…”

“…Shilling and colleagues (2013) added that parent peer support programs can enhance a sense of belonging and shared social identity with other parents. Indeed, multiple studies reported that talking to families with similar experiences helps parents feel less isolated, more valued by others and better informed and equipped to cope with everyday issues (Davies and Hall, 2005; Dreyfus and Dowse, 2018; Shilling et al, 2013; Solomon et al, 2001; Thompson-Janes et al, 2014).…”

Experiences of parents who support a family member with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour: “This is what I deal with every single day”

“…Within the research addressing family experiences of caring for a family member with a disability (see for example Cummins, 200;McConkey, 2005;McKenzie, Mayer, Whelan, McNall, Noone & Chaplin, 2017;Plant & Sanders, 2007;Storr, 2014;Thompson-Janes, Brice, McElroy, Abbott & Ball, 2014) a small subset of studies focuses on the experiences of families whose family member not only has intellectual disability but also challenging behaviour (see for example Hatton, Emerson, Kirby, Kotwal, Baines, Hutchinson, Dobson & Marks, 2010;Maes, Broekman, Došen, & Nauts, 2003;McGill, Tennyson, & Cooper, 2005;McGill, Papachristoforou, & Cooper, 2006). While a number of these studies identify the challenges and strains of these families, few show the detail of what family members do on a day-to-day basis to navigate their lives.…”

“…While this study is survey-based and focuses on people with autism, it is one of the few that begins to unpack the lives of families who live with and care for a member with challenging behaviour. Thompson-Janes, et al's (2014) study focused on parents' experiences of attending a therapeutic group for parents of children with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour. The study confirmed the findings of previous studies that group interventions are beneficial for the wellbeing of parents that fall into this category.…”