Raising a Child with a Disability: Coping Mechanisms and Support Needs

Raising a child with a disability can affect parents, siblings, and family members in various ways and can be determined by the way in which a parent copes with and appraises the situation. The first goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between a parent’s coping mechanism (confrontive coping, distancing, self-controlling, seeking social support, accepting responsibility, escape-avoidance, planful problem solving, and positive reappraisal) on his or her mental health or distress (depression, hopelessness, anxiety, and anger) when raising a child with a disability. The second goal was to investigate whether positive and adaptive coping would result in better mental health outcomes or if additional supports are needed. Two questionnaires were utilized to investigate the relationship between the stress associated with raising a child with a disability and coping mechanisms. Parents rated their coping by completing the Ways of Coping Questionnaire and rated their mental health by completing the Psychological Distress Profile. In addition, six open-ended questions were utilized to add depth to this study by asking parents to discuss their personal journeys. The results indicate parents’ coping mechanisms did not have a significant relationship with their distress and that positive adaptive coping did not result in better mental health outcomes. Parents’ reports of their own personal experiences yielded consistent results in that they did, in fact, feel socially isolated, financially stressed, and emotionally taxed when raising a child with a disability. Implications regarding parental coping mechanisms and the distress of raising a child with a disability are discussed