Adapting Instead of Reacting: A Qualitative Study Exploring Parenting Strategies for Childhood Emotional Disturbance

TL;DR

This study shows that adapting the environment and responding with compassion helps parents manage children with emotional disturbance better than traditional consequences-based methods.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel perspective on parenting strategies for children with emotional disturbance, emphasizing adaptation and compassion over reaction.

Findings

Consequence-based parenting was ineffective for children with emotional disturbance.

Adapting the child's environment and using pre-planned responses were more successful strategies.

A shift in parental perspective to seeing the child as struggling, not defiant, improved emotional responses.

Abstract

What are the main findings?
A consequence- or reaction-based parenting approach was universally ineffective for children with emotional disturbance.Prioritizing the adaptation of the child’s environment, defusing emotions, and pre-planned intentional responses were more successful in managing the child’s reactions and behaviors.

A consequence- or reaction-based parenting approach was universally ineffective for children with emotional disturbance.

Prioritizing the adaptation of the child’s environment, defusing emotions, and pre-planned intentional responses were more successful in managing the child’s reactions and behaviors.

What are the implications of the main findings?
Parents need healthcare providers to assist them in thinking of creative adaptations of the child’s environment rather than trying to fit the child within their environment.When mothers started seeing the child as struggling with a problem, rather than being simply defiant, mothers approached emotionally laden situations with compassion over frustration.

Parents need healthcare providers to assist them in thinking of creative adaptations of the child’s environment rather than trying to fit the child within their environment.

When mothers started seeing the child as struggling with a problem, rather than being simply defiant, mothers approached emotionally laden situations with compassion over frustration.

Background: Children with emotional disturbance (ED) frequently display highly unpredictable behaviors compared to other children. The magnitude and unpredictability of childhood ED make finding effective management strategies difficult for parents. Prior research has examined parents’ stress and the children’s behaviors in schools, but we know very little about how parents manage at home. Methods: This qualitative study used Naturalistic Inquiry to explore how parents respond to the challenges which arise at home due to childhood ED. Eight mothers raising 10 children with ED were recruited nationally. Data were gathered through semi-structured, individual interviews. Results: Consequences-based parenting strategies were unsuccessful, but mothers achieved greater success with pre-planned, intentional responses and adapting the child’s environment. Mothers learned their child’s world view was very different than their own. This realization caused mothers’ perspective toward their child to change. Mothers saw their child as struggling with a problem, instead of simply being defiant. The perception shift allowed mothers to approach situations with greater compassion and inner peace. Conclusions: The findings provide suggestions for pediatric healthcare providers who work with such parents seeking assistance and advice.