Persons with intellectual disabilities (ID) have the right to decide freely when and if they have children. However parental ID is often regarded as a risk for their children’s wellbeing and parents with ID often meet negative attitudes towards their parenthood from both professionals and their social networks. The aim of this study is to examine the conditions for parents with ID and their possibilities to be good enough parents. Both published research and personal depictions found in media were used in this literature study. Three themes were identified and analysed using good enough parenting and empowerment as a theoretical framework. The first theme to prove oneself as a good parent includesexperiencers of having one’s parenthood questioned based on stereotypes about ID as a diagnosis. Parents with ID feel they are being surveilled and judged by the people around them. There is an underlying feeling among parents with ID that they need to prove themselves as able parents. The second theme good relationships encourage good parenting contains stories of how the relationship with the social network and professionals affect parents with ID. Support from others can be perceived in both positive and negative ways depending on the quality of the relationship in which the support is offered. The last theme one diagnosis, a spectrum of conditions describes the variety of needs and experiences which affect people with ID and their ability to be good enough parents. Social context and experiences of for instance poverty, trauma or abuse affect the ability to parent regardless of an ID or not. In conclusion, professionals have an opportunity to work empowering with parents with ID, but this opportunity is often missed. A variability in living conditions and social context affect the ability to perform as a good enough parent. This is true for all parents, but for parents with ID in particular.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:mau-68335 |
| Date | January 2024 |
| Creators | Berg, Hannah, Nyström, Mathilda |
| Publisher | Malmö universitet, Institutionen för socialt arbete (SA) |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | Swedish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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