Family Environment of Families with Children with Specific Learning Disabilities: Implications for Family-Centred Social Work Practice

Abstract

Background: Family relationships are very challenging, and raising a child with learning disabilities can create even more stress for a family. While a young person's problems may seem most noticeable at school, they quickly become "a family affair". What happens in the family affects each child, and what happens with each child affects the family. The study's objective was to determine the predictors of relationship, personal growth, and system maintenance and change in families with children with learning disabilities using the in-depth interview method. Methods: The sample consisted of 10 mothers of children with learning disabilities belonging to special education centres and special schools in South Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, selected through a purposive sampling procedure. The one-two hour-long discussions with them were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was used to analyse and code texts relating to the study objective. After completing the coding for each data set, the codes were reviewed again to identify the subthemes. Results: The analysis revealed that family living experience, emotional climate, overcoming conflicts, showing care and appreciation, self-enhancement, spending quality time, parenting style, family structure, strengths and challenges, and good practices are some of the predictors of relationship, personal growth and system maintenance and change in families with children with learning disabilities. Conclusions: The study emphasises the need for parent-mediated home interventions focusing on improving the family environment of families with children with learning disabilities.

Keywords

• child
• family
• Specific learning disabilities
• child and family welfare
• child and family social work