Fathers' experiences of caring for children with developmental disabilities
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC NURSING-NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN & FAMILIES, cilt.90, ss.649-656, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 90
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.pedn.2026.07.024
- Dergi Adı: JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC NURSING-NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN & FAMILIES
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.649-656
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Caregiver burden, Caregiving, Children with developmental disabilities, Family-centered care, Fathers
- Kayseri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Background: Although caregiving for children with developmental disabilities has been widely examined, fathers' experiences remain relatively underexplored. This qualitative descriptive study explored fathers' caregiving experiences in the context of children with developmental disabilities, focusing on psychological, social, economic, and systemic dimensions of caregiving and fathers' coping and adaptation processes. Design and methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used. Data were collected through semi-structured, indepth interviews with 19 fathers of children diagnosed with developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, and intellectual disabilities. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis. Rigor was ensured through credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability strategies, and reporting followed COREQguidelines. Results: Six themes were identified: meaning and transformation of fatherhood, multidimensional burden and challenges, social attitudes and support versus stigma, redefinition of the paternal role, need for formal support systems, and coping and adaptation. Fathers reported psychological distress, future-oriented anxiety, financial burden, social challenges, service-related barriers, and a need for more accessible father-inclusive support. Care-giving was also associated with personal growth, meaning-making, emotional engagement, and active participation in daily care. Conclusions: Fathers' caregiving experiences reflected both burden and resilience, shaped by personal, social, and systemic factors. Recognizing fathers as active caregivers is essential for strengthening family-centered pediatric care. Implications for pediatric nursing: Pediatric nurses should include fathers in assessment, communication, education, care planning, and support services to address caregiver burden and support family-centered pediatric care. (c) 2026 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.