In Their Own Words: Mothers Narrate the Lived Experience of Raising Children with Developmental Disorders Who Engage in Socially Disruptive Conduct

This work originally appeared in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Abstract

The occupational role of a mother parenting a child with developmental and socially disruptive conduct is unique. How moth- ers express their experiences is poorly explored in the literature. This study aims to better understand mothers’ description of their unique experiences in order to better inform interventions. Using a narrative inquiry approach, mothers convey unique stressors related to two central themes (role fulfillment and role support) during a journal writing intervention. Studying mothers’ own words as they attempted to make sense of their experiences aligns with the foundational principles of narrative medicine: People make sense of their experiences through storytelling. Knowledge gained from this research underscores the importance of centering a mother’s voice in order to create effective interventions.