Focusing on arthritis and parenting

Research that explores being a parent or grandparent with musculoskeletal problems has been fairly limited to date. The aim of this study was to describe the experience of parenting in the context of back pain (BP), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with a particular focus on the extent and nature of childcare experiences and to compare these experiences across the three groups. In addition, the possible reasons for these reported experiences, the availability of advice and support and the development of strategies for coping were explored using a cross-sectional descriptive survey. A total of 448 participants was recruited from relevant charitable organizations and the National Health Service (280 with BP, 106 with AS and 62 with RA). A combination of opportunistic and random sampling was used. Quantitative data were analysed with appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 10). Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. Results indicate that a high proportion of all groups experienced a wide range of difficulties with parenting (81% BP, 77% AS, 97% RA). The most prevalent problems were similar for all three groups: lifting baby/child from the floor or cot, encouraging children/grandchildren to help with domestic chores and keeping up (in terms of energy) with children/grandchildren. However, the RA group reported having greater difficulties than the other two groups. Very little advice was offered to participants with parenting difficulties which may indicate a gap in service provision. However, a wide range of strategies for coping were described by respondents. The study highlighted a need for healthcare professionals to develop a greater awareness of parenting issues and to provide opportunities for these issues to be addressed.

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Being a parent or grandparent with back pain, ankylosing spondylitis or rheumatoid arthritis: a descriptive postal survey

Grant

Foster

Wright

et al. 2004

Musculoskeletal Care

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Mothers with Arthritis, Child Care and Occupational Therapy: Insight through Case Studies

Grant¹

2001

British Journal of Occupational Therapy

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The role of occupational therapy in the treatment of mothers with arthritis has received little attention in the research literature to date. This study builds on previous work at the Psychosocial Research Centre at Coventry University on the theme of parenting in the context of arthritis. Qualitative case studies were undertaken with four mothers with arthritis and the two occupational therapists involved in their care. This involved the observation of occupational therapy sessions, interviews with mothers and occupational therapists and the use of field notes. The data were analysed using the middle-order approach (Dey 1993). The middle-order categories that emerged were physical and psychosocial parenting problems, the level of support available to mothers and their experience of occupational therapy. The subcategories included items such as difficulty in carrying children and with physical play, guilt and anxiety about the ability to fulfil the parenting role, inadequate or too much support from partners and increased knowledge and confidence through occupational therapy. Broad, overarching themes evolving from these data included the significance of mothers' attitudes to parenting based on preconceived notions of motherhood, the psychological state of mothers and the nature of the support available from partners. The implications for practice include the importance of nurturing a mother's own problem-solving strategies and balancing the physical and psychosocial aspects of intervention according to her needs.

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Occupation of Motherhood: Challenges for Mothers With Scleroderma

Poole

Willer²,

Mendelson

2009

The American Journal of Occupational Therapy

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Focusing on arthritis and parenting

Abstract: There is little documented information on the experience of parenting with arthritis. A small scale study was designed to gain understanding of the experience of parents who have arthritis, from the perspectives of the occupational therapists and physiotherapists involved in their care.

Cited by 3 publications

References 19 publications

Being a parent or grandparent with back pain, ankylosing spondylitis or rheumatoid arthritis: a descriptive postal survey

Being a parent or grandparent with back pain, ankylosing spondylitis or rheumatoid arthritis: a descriptive postal survey

Mothers with Arthritis, Child Care and Occupational Therapy: Insight through Case Studies

Occupation of Motherhood: Challenges for Mothers With Scleroderma

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