Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Occupational Therapy Department, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Frankston, Australia.
Cerebral Palsy Education Centre, Glen Waverley, Australia.
Disabil Rehabil. 2022 Aug;44(16):4441-4451. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2021.1910739. Epub 2021 Apr 25.
Fathers in families raising children with disabilities are under-researched. Fathers' perspectives can be better accommodated in childhood disability services that operate on a family-centred paradigm if their perspectives are understood. This study aimed to investigate the perspectives of fathers on caring and family life, work, and health.
A mixed-methods design with an online questionnaire included open-ended questions and three instruments: Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS); Health Promoting Activities Scale (HPAS-M); Fathers of Children with Developmental Challenges (FCDC) Scale.
Fathers ( = 33) reported high depressive (58%), anxiety (37%), and stress symptoms (61%). Fathers reported low participation in health-promoting activity with less than weekly: planning health activities (58%); solo physical activity (26%); social activity (3%); time relaxing (16%). Sixty-four percent worked full-time, although work was reported to be challenged by family responsibilities. Fathers described directly caring for their children although service interactions were low and delegated to mothers.
Fathers in this study reported stress, mental health issues, and low participation in healthy activity. Fathers experienced challenges related to career progression and job choices due to family responsibilities. Providing individualised and responsive support to fathers of a child with a disability would better support the family unit.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONFathers of children with a disability in this study experienced high mental health symptoms.Fathers were involved with their child's care at home but had low service interactions suggesting that service providers need to discover new ways to better engage fathers.Fathers experienced challenges to participation in paid work secondary to care responsibilities for their child with a disability and resulting needs of their family.Services that better support fathers are important to promote better health and wellbeing and support families.
在以家庭为中心模式运作的儿童残疾服务中，如果能够理解父亲的观点，就可以更好地容纳父亲的观点。本研究旨在调查父亲对照顾和家庭生活、工作和健康的看法。
采用混合方法设计，在线问卷包括开放式问题和三种工具：抑郁焦虑压力量表（DASS）；健康促进活动量表（HPAS-M）；发育挑战儿童的父亲量表（FCDC）。
父亲（n=33）报告了较高的抑郁（58%）、焦虑（37%）和压力症状（61%）。父亲报告的健康促进活动参与度较低，每周不到一次：规划健康活动（58%）；单独体育活动（26%）；社会活动（3%）；放松时间（16%）。64%的人全职工作，但由于家庭责任，工作被认为具有挑战性。父亲们描述了直接照顾他们的孩子，尽管服务互动较少，并委托给母亲。
本研究中的父亲报告了压力、心理健康问题和低水平的健康活动参与度。父亲因家庭责任而在职业发展和工作选择方面面临挑战。为残疾儿童的父亲提供个性化和响应式支持将更好地支持家庭单位。
本研究中残疾儿童的父亲经历了较高的心理健康症状。父亲在家中参与孩子的护理，但服务互动较少，这表明服务提供者需要寻找新方法来更好地与父亲接触。父亲因残疾子女的护理责任和家庭的需求而面临参与有偿工作的挑战。更好地支持父亲的服务对于促进更好的健康和幸福感以及支持家庭非常重要。
