Grandparenting a child with a disability: An emotional rollercoaster
Author(s)
Woodbridge, Sandra
Buys, Laurie
Miller, Evonne
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2009
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
As our knowledge about the experiences of grandparents when their grandchild has a disability is extremely limited, the purpose of this research was to explore the emotional journal of Australian grandparents. This qualitative study utilised purposive sampling and semi structured in-depth interviews to explore the experiences of 22 Australian grandparents whose grandchild had been diagnosed with a disability. Three key themes characterized grandparents emotional journey: adjusting: (the transition from anger to acceptance), the 'double grief'' :(sadness about what might have been for both their child and their grandchild and ...
View more >As our knowledge about the experiences of grandparents when their grandchild has a disability is extremely limited, the purpose of this research was to explore the emotional journal of Australian grandparents. This qualitative study utilised purposive sampling and semi structured in-depth interviews to explore the experiences of 22 Australian grandparents whose grandchild had been diagnosed with a disability. Three key themes characterized grandparents emotional journey: adjusting: (the transition from anger to acceptance), the 'double grief'' :(sadness about what might have been for both their child and their grandchild and pride in family : (pride in family's ability to adjust to the challenges of the situation). As the first Australian study to explore the experiences of grandparents when their grandchild has a disability, the research provides important new knowledge about the emotional journey for grandparents. Unlike overseas research, Australian grandparents view themselves as being there to support their own children, rather than "holding the family together". The findings will provide current policy debates about the role of grandparents and highlight the importance of support services that help facilitate grandparents' role within their family
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View more >As our knowledge about the experiences of grandparents when their grandchild has a disability is extremely limited, the purpose of this research was to explore the emotional journal of Australian grandparents. This qualitative study utilised purposive sampling and semi structured in-depth interviews to explore the experiences of 22 Australian grandparents whose grandchild had been diagnosed with a disability. Three key themes characterized grandparents emotional journey: adjusting: (the transition from anger to acceptance), the 'double grief'' :(sadness about what might have been for both their child and their grandchild and pride in family : (pride in family's ability to adjust to the challenges of the situation). As the first Australian study to explore the experiences of grandparents when their grandchild has a disability, the research provides important new knowledge about the emotional journey for grandparents. Unlike overseas research, Australian grandparents view themselves as being there to support their own children, rather than "holding the family together". The findings will provide current policy debates about the role of grandparents and highlight the importance of support services that help facilitate grandparents' role within their family
View less >
Journal Title
Australasian Journal on Ageing
Volume
28
Issue
1
Publisher URI
Subject
Biomedical and clinical sciences
Human society
Other human society not elsewhere classified
Psychology