Parent-to-parent peer support for parents of children with a disability: A mixed method study

Bray, Lucy; Carter, Bernie; Sanders, Caroline; Blake, Lucy; Keegan, Kimberley

Abstract

Objectives
This paper will report on the findings of a study which investigated the influence of a befriending (parent-to-parent peer support) scheme on parents whose children have a disability or additional need. The scheme operated from an acute children’s tertiary setting in the UK.

Methods
A prospective concurrent mixed method design collected interview (n = 70) and questionnaire (n = 68) data at two time-points from befrienders (n = 13) and befriendees (n = 26).

Results
The main qualitative findings of the study relate to the different degrees parents (befriendees and befrienders) moved from being lost, to finding and being a guide and getting to a better place. The quantitative findings demonstrate that parent-to-parent peer support has a positive influence on parents’ levels of psychological distress and their ability to cope with being a parent of a child with a disability.

Conclusion
The befriending scheme acted as a catalyst for many parents to move towards a place where they could grow and begin to flourish and thrive.

Practice implications
Professionals should inform parents who have a child with a disability that peer-to-peer parenting support schemes are a valuable and appropriate source of support and help.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 2, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Mar 6, 2017
• Publication Date: Aug 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Oct 3, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 5, 2021
• Journal: Patient Education and Counseling
• Print ISSN: 0738-3991
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 100
• Issue: 8
• Pages: 1537-1543
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2017.03.004
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7522126
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Parent-to-parent peer support for parents of children with a disability: A mixed method study; Journal Title: Patient Education and Counseling; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2017.03.004; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.