Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Donna Heretick

Abstract

Disorders of the corpus callosum (ADCC) present developmental challenges to children and adults. These disorders are characterized by symptoms of abnormal behaviors and/or thinking patterns. Because ADCC may exist in combination with other disabilities, individual IQs and the severity and problems vary from individual to individual. Using the double ABCx model of family adaptation to stress related to a family member with a disability, the purpose of this cross-sectional study was to provide the first evaluation of parental adaptation among parents of children with ADCC. The final sample, 265 mothers of children with ADCC, was recruited through online support groups for ADCC parents. Parent adaptation was operationally defined as quality of life and operationalized by scores on the World Health Organization (WHO) Quality of Life Questionnaire (QOL). The predictors were measured by the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress (QRS), Family Empowerment Scale (FES), Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC), and Coping Health Inventory for Parents (CHIP). Linear regressions were used to evaluate the predictors in the 4-factor double ABCx prediction model of parent adaptation. Except for parent stress level, family empowerment, sense of coherence, and coping styles were statistically significant predictors of parental quality of life. That is, mothers who reported experiences of empowerment, coherence, and positive coping also have high self-reported quality of life. The findings, the first for experiences of parents of children with ADCC, provide valuable information for further research, but also for other parents and those who may be instrumental in the development of supportive services for this population.

Download

Share

 
COinS