Chauke Tsakani, Poggenpoel Marie, Myburgh Chris P H, Ntshingila Nompumelelo
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Department of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Health SA. 2021 Apr 15;26:1538. doi: 10.4102/hsag.v26i0.1538. eCollection 2021.
Parents of adolescents with intellectual disability experienced stress caused by challenges that come from having such adolescents. Those challenges affected the parents physically and emotionally, depending on the severity of the adolescent's intellectual disability. Having an adolescent with an intellectual disability becomes a burden if the challenges were not resolved.
This study aimed to explore and describe the experiences of parents of adolescents with intellectual disability in Giyani.
This study was conducted at the participants' homes in Giyani, Limpopo province, South Africa.
A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was utilised. The main question was 'How is it to have an adolescent with intellectual disability?' Eight purposively sampled parents participated, and data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations and field notes. Data were analysed by means of thematic coding and an independent coder was consulted.
Four themes were identified. The study revealed that parents of adolescents with intellectual disability experienced negative emotional responses. Most parents reported a lack of support from family members and the community. They also reported caring challenges, yet some showed positive coping mechanisms.
Parents of adolescents with intellectual disability experienced various challenges in caring for these children. A collaborative approach from relevant stakeholders could have a positive impact in supporting the parents of adolescents with intellectual disabilities.
智障青少年的父母会因养育这样的青少年所带来的挑战而承受压力。这些挑战会在身体和情感上影响父母，其程度取决于青少年智障的严重程度。如果这些挑战得不到解决，养育一个智障青少年就会成为一种负担。
本研究旨在探索和描述吉亚尼地区智障青少年父母的经历。
本研究在南非林波波省吉亚尼市参与者的家中进行。
采用定性、探索性、描述性和情境性设计。主要问题是“养育一个智障青少年是怎样的体验？” 八名经过有目的抽样的父母参与了研究，数据通过深入访谈、观察和实地记录收集。数据通过主题编码进行分析，并咨询了一名独立编码员。
确定了四个主题。研究表明，智障青少年的父母经历了负面情绪反应。大多数父母报告说缺乏来自家庭成员和社区的支持。他们还报告了照料方面的挑战，但也有一些人展示了积极的应对机制。
智障青少年的父母在照料这些孩子方面经历了各种挑战。相关利益攸关方采取协作方法可能会对支持智障青少年的父母产生积极影响。
