Uncertainty

Abstract

Delays in child growth or development are significant problems for children, their families and population health. Eliciting parental concerns as early as possible to promote child growth and development requires close collaborative working with parents. There is evidence that parents delay expressing concern and that health-care professionals are not always effective at eliciting and attending to parental concerns. The aim of this study was to understand the experiences of parents of preschool children who had expressed a child growth or development concern. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study design was used with a purposive sample of parents of 15 preschool children in Ireland. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews and analysed using IPA. One key superordinate theme - Uncertainty - 'a little bit not sure' captured how parents made sense of their concerns about their child's growth and development. In addition to watching, comparing and wondering, parents assessed whether their child could 'do other things' or if something in particular could have caused the growth or development problem. Parents, particularly mothers, grapple with uncertainty associated with unfamiliar cues in the complex and multifaceted nature of child growth and development in their efforts to make sense of what is happening with their child.

Parenting children with Down syndrome: Societal influences

“…On being told their newborn baby has an impairment, parents tend to react with a mixture of shock and disbelief, followed by denial ( Zappella, 2016 ). As the reality becomes undeniable, feelings of guilt, fear of the reactions of others, and uncertainty regarding the future emerge ( Fortier and Wanlass, 1984 ; Mulcahy and Savage, 2016 ). Torn between powerful and conflicting emotions, parents live through a stressful period in which coping depends on support from one another, from extended families, friends, support groups, and skilled professionals ( Yildirim, et al, 2012 ).…”

Wisdom of the Masses? Users and Educators Contrasting Perspectives on the Data Privacy and Safety of Early Years’ Apps

“…However, a rather distracted and sometimes selfish (for example, in the practices of sharenting) approach of parents/caregivers regarding the newborns, babies, and toddler's digital footprint cannot be neglected, as Barassi elucidates (2017). This result is not particularly supported by Mulcahy and Savage (2016) in their interpretative phenomenological study over 15 deep interviews. They found that mothers are behind growth or development problems (Mulcahy & Savage, 2016, p. 335).…”

Safe care for premature babies at home: Parenting and stimulating development

“…Extended family support was configured as an opening to help parents. Supporting family relationships are relevant and gaps in family support can negatively weaken bonds, consequently to baby's health and development (Mulcahy and Savage, 2016).…”