Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)

School

Psychology

Advisor

Matthew Howren

Abstract

Little was known about how fathers perceived stress and resiliency when parenting children diagnosed with Down syndrome. Therefore, the purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore perceptions involving stress and resiliency among fathers whose children had been diagnosed with Down syndrome and understand how stress and resiliency affected the parenting skills of those fathers who resided in Prince George's County, Charles County, or St. Mary's County in Maryland. This involved recruiting eight participants who completed semi-structured interviews where they were asked the same 10 open-ended questions. This study involved using a qualitative thematic analysis, was guided by the family resilience theory that supported a better understanding of how fathers of children who have been diagnosed with Down syndrome experienced stress and resiliency when raising their children. Participants in this study reported they experienced stress when raising their children who were diagnosed with Down syndrome. The main stressor that fathers experienced was uncertainty involving their children’s future. They reported that resilience assisted them with strength and the ability to persevere through challenging and difficult situations. The main barriers they experienced when raising their children with Down syndrome were their children’s behavior, communication, and health. They reported they overcame barriers by leaning on the support and love of their families. This study has the potential to lead to positive social change by providing fathers whose children have been diagnosed with Down syndrome with parenting classes and other community resources that focus on stressors that are mostly experienced when raising children.

Download

Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

 
COinS