Tohidast S A, Nahidi R, Mansuri B, Salmani M. Effects of Children’s Communication Disorders on the Quality of Life of Their Parents in Iran. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal 2024; 22 (2) :183-194
URL:
http://irj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-1873-en.html
1- Neuromuscular Rehabilitation Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
2- Student Research Committee, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
3- Department of Speech Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
Abstract: (2133 Views)
Objectives: Communication disorders in children can change the parents’ lives. Some quantitative studies have investigated the effects of children’s disorders on parents’ quality of life (QoL) using questionnaires. These quantitative studies cannot comprehensively determine the extent of the impacts of such disorders in children on parents’ QoL. Quantitative studies have investigated the QoL using a few limited questions. However, qualitative studies can explore aspects of reality using a full, comprehensive, and in-depth way that may not be quantified by questionnaires. Therefore, this study qualitatively explains the effects of communication disorders in children on parents’ QoL.
Methods: In this original research, 14 parents who had children with communication disorders consented to participate in semi-structured interviews. The participants were selected purposefully and the sampling was continued until the data was saturated. The interviews were transcribed and then analyzed through qualitative content analysis.
Results: Qualitative content analysis of the interviews extracted five main themes, including physical effects, psychological effects, economic effects, family dynamics effects, and job-educational effects. Each of these themes consists of several subthemes.
Discussion: The study revealed the depth of the negative influences of children’s communication disorders on the parents’ QoL. Screening for parental QoL and providing family support systems for parents of children with communication disorders are warranted based on these findings. Moreover, the findings of the current study can be used for the development of new instruments for measuring QoL or caregiver burden among parents of children with communication disorders.
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● Communication disorders in children can reduce the parents’ quality of life (QoL).
● Semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents of children with communication disorders to explain the effects of children’s communication disorders on parents’ QoL.
● Physical effects, psychological effects, economic effects, family-dynamics effects, and job-educational effects were the main themes extracted from interviews.
● Screening for parental QoL and providing family support systems for parents of children with communication disorders are warranted based on the findings of the current study.
Plain Language Summary
Parents confronted with communication problems in any of their children would experience many problems, such as difficulties in communicating with the affected child, high levels of stress, excessive strain, limited daily life activities, and problems in delivering proper parenting roles. These problems consequently affect the quality of life (QoL) of the child with communication disorder and other family members. The current study was conducted to better identify the effects of communication disorders in children on parents’ QoL.
Article type:
Original Research Articles |
Subject:
Speech therapy Received: 2023/01/14 | Accepted: 2023/05/6 | Published: 2024/06/1
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