Depression and Social Support in Families Raising a Child with a Disability/Chronic Condition

Authors

Shannon McOmber, Brigham Young University

Keywords

depression, social support, child with disability, CWD, chronic conditions

College

Nursing

Abstract

An estimated 4 million children in the United States have a disability (Disability Statistic Center). How families adapt to the situation of raising a CWD may be related to a number of factors including the parents’ level and type of social support. Clearly, social support serves as an important resource to couples and families raising typically developing children; however, it may be an especially important resource for families who are raising a CWD. Since there is minimal literature examining this topic, and rarely are fathers’ perceptions of social support measured, one purpose of this study was to examine mothers’ and fathers’ perceptions of social support when raising a CWD and then determine if there were differences according to parent gender and the type of disability.

Recommended Citation

McOmber, Shannon (2014) "Depression and Social Support in Families Raising a Child with a Disability/Chronic Condition," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2014: Iss. 1, Article 1052.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2014/iss1/1052