Mothers' Initial Discovery of Childhood Disability: Exploring Maternal Identification of Developmental Issues in Young Children

Autor/in	Silbersack, Elionora W.
Titel	Mothers' Initial Discovery of Childhood Disability: Exploring Maternal Identification of Developmental Issues in Young Children
Quelle	(2014), (172 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit Ph.D. Dissertation, Adelphi University, School of Social Work
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
ISBN	978-1-3039-1440-9
Schlagwörter	Hochschulschrift; Dissertation; Mothers; Qualitative Research; Disabilities; Disability Identification; Young Children; Phenomenology; Interviews; Child Development; Developmental Disabilities; Parent Attitudes; Connecticut; Massachusetts; New York; Texas + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Thesis; Dissertations; Academic thesis; Mother; Mutter; Qualitative Forschung; Handicap; Behinderung; Frühe Kindheit; Phenomenological psychology; Phänomenologie; Psychologie; Interviewing; Interviewtechnik; Kindesentwicklung; Entwicklungsstörung; Elternverhalten; Master-Studiengang
Abstract	The purpose of this qualitative study was to expand the scarce information available on how mothers first observe their children's early development, assess potential problems, and then come to recognize their concerns. In-depth knowledge about mothers' perspectives on the discovery process can help social workers to promote identification of developmental disability in young children and facilitate service plans. A phenomenological design was chosen to capture the complexity of meaning within the shared experience of discovery. Data collection included in-person interviews and a follow-up e-mail contact with 18 mothers living in New York, Massachusetts, Texas, and Connecticut. Ongoing comparative thematic analysis led to an outline of the process surrounding mothers' discovery of their children's developmental issues. The data suggest five major themes unfolding along a discovery timeline: For the majority of the mothers, instinct and close observation of their child's behavior led to an initial "awareness" of developmental concerns. "Identification" of problems emerged as the mothers pieced together feedback from informal social networks and formal evaluations. Next their "reaction" and responses to a growing recognition of delay or disability prompted advocacy efforts with service delivery representatives in the "negotiation" phase. Lastly the mothers considered the meaning of developmental challenges in an "appraisal" of motherhood and expectation for the future. Study findings on how mothers perceive early developmental problems can help to minimize the lag between concern and intervention, provide insight into service access, and inform social workers who advocate for social policies that expand resources for families with children with disabilities. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.] (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01