Q analysis of mothers' perspectives on their children with developmental disabilities: Communication problems and support needs

Eun Jung Choi, Young Tae Kim, Min Kyung Kang, Hyun Jung Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated the mothers' perspectives on their children with developmental disabilities, particularly focusing on their communication problems and support needs. Methods: Q-methodology was used, as it provides a method of analyzing the subjectivity of each item. Seventy-two items were obtained from a literature review and an open questionnaire. Item scores were generated from -6 (least important) to 6 (most important). The collected data were analyzed using the QUANL PC program. Twenty-four participants (12 mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders and 12 mothers of children with intellectual disabilities) completed the Q-sort. Results: Three distinctive types were obtained: the title of type 1 is 'external communication', type 2 'internal analytic', and type 3 'media searching'. The derived types were discussed in terms of both mothers' perception on their children's communication problems and their support needs, which delineate the unique and/or shared common themes across the three types. Conclusion: The results of the present study identified three types of mothers of children with developmental disabilities. The study suggested some referential data that might be useful for speech-language therapists to apply a more systematic approach toward the parents and families of children with developmental disabilities.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)167-177
Number of pages11
JournalCommunication Sciences and Disorders
Volume19
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Korean Academy of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

Keywords

  • Children with development disabilities
  • Communication problem
  • Mother's perception
  • Q-methodology

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