Transformations in the Family System after the Birth of a Child with Disability

Abstract

Abstract The arrival of a child with disability causes changes in the family structure and dynamics. The objective of this study was to identify the parents’ reactions after the transmission of the diagnosis of disability of their child and its repercussions on the family. A semi-structured interview was carried out with three couples with a child, which identified the profile and the transformations in the family system. The data analysis, with the aid of the IRaMuTeQ program (lexographic analysis and Descending Hierarchical Classification), resulted in the classs/categories: birth and mourning, pregnancy and care, routine and overload, spirituality and intrafamily relationships. The transformations in the family dynamics provoked feelings of mourning, overload of the couples, the need for a support network and, in some cases, the connection with spirituality. In conclusion, there is a need for interprofessional and intersectoral research in view of the communication of the diagnosis and the changes throughout the life of the family.

Keywords

• family
• people with disabilities
• diagnosis