PARENTHOOD OF A SPECIAL CHILD: SPECIFICATION OF THE MEANINGS AND THE MATURITY OF PARENTAL DISPOSITION

• Main Author: Irina Nikolaevna Galasyuk
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Science and Innovation Center Publishing House 2015-11-01
• Series: Sovremennye Issledovaniâ Socialʹnyh Problem
• Subjects: parenthood; special child; parental disposition; parental attitudes; persona-lity resources; dynamic meaning system, personality maturity
• Online Access: http://journal-s.org/index.php/sisp/article/view/7497

<p class="x-----------" xml:lang="en-US">The article is devoted to the study of parenthood of a special child with relation to the dynamics of parenthood meanings. The classification of parenthood is proposed in the article, and it constitutes by the formal, dominant, paternal and mature parenthood. The central part of the classification is a parental disposition to a child with special needs, and evolution of the dispositions associated with the specific meaning dynamics. The empirical study examines correlations between parental dispositions and personality characteristics, as well as indicators of family functioning and the quality of relationships with a child. The sample included 154 parents aged from 25 to 62 who are raised children with mental disabilities and are registered at social centers and orphanages of Moscow. The analysis brings to light that the evolution to the mature parenthood is associated with increased levels of meaning of life, vitality and psychological well-being of a parent; of positive family organization; of deeper quality of relationships in the family; and of more pronounced ability of parents to understand and accept the child emotionally and rationally.</p>