Solomon, Mike; (1997) What do parents of children with disabilities and special needs find helpful about mutual support groups? Doctoral thesis (D.Clin.Psy), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

This study aimed to enhance understanding of mutual support groups run by and for parents of children with disabilities and special needs, by finding out how helpful members found their groups, the characteristics of their groups, and the nature of any relationships between the two, and by discovering in detail what parents of disabled children found helpful about mutual support groups. A sample of six groups affiliated to Contact a Family, a national charity, participated, and each group was visited once. Questionnaires were completed by 56 individuals, and five focus group discussions were conducted. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analysed. Participants found their groups extremely helpful, reporting high levels of satisfaction. All groups were very cohesive, while groups varied more in other characteristics. Apparently different groups had different aims and served different functions. Satisfaction levels were related to the amount of emotional support received from others, as well as levels of cohesion and self-discovery within groups. A range of helpful processes and benefits from mutual support group membership were reported, classified in terms of three domains of identity change, namely empowerment in the socio-political domain, belonging to a community at the inter-personal level, and personal identity change at the intra-individual level. Some unhelpful aspects of the structure of mutual support groups and the content of meetings were also reported. The findings are discussed in the light of general psychological frameworks, and the implications are considered for participants, researchers, clinicians and other professionals.

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