Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands

Peter van der EndeLecturer/researcher, Research departmentRehabilitation Hanze university Groningen, the Netherlands

Marrie VenderinkStaffworker/program writer; Mental HealthInstitution Groningen, Rehabilitation Department

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands

Parents with

psychiatric

disabilities

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands

Project

• Goal: Development of an effective rehabilitation program

• For who: Parents with psychiatric disabilities

Professional carers/Students

• How: Query for needs of parents (N=47)

Writing a program

Try-out (N=20), evaluation and correction of the program

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands

Background

• Living in community

• Parents with psychiatric disabilities are in many cases single

• Low income / struggle for life

• High barrier for using services

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands

Research question

• What needs for support have parents with psychiatric disabilities?

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands

Parenthood Own life

Balance

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands

Research from a ‘rehabilitation’ viewpoint’

• Possibilities and needs, e.g. do you listen to child’s needs for hobbies?

• Not deficits like: do you neglect the child very often?

• Self evaluation and less observation

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands

Questionnaire Scale for Satisfaction in the parent role

(Cronbach’s α=.79)

Four factors in scale

• Giving emotional support and warmth

• Stimulating child’s development

• Listening to child’s needs

• Organizing and coaching activities

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands

-more topics-

• Making a balance between parenthood

and own needs

• Improving the communication with the child

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-questionnaire continued-

After each part:

• Resources

• Need for a change

• Need for support

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Research sample (N=47)

Selected sample Gender• Male 6• Female 41•

Living with partner• Without partner 29• With partner 18

Housing:• Independent 35 • Sheltered living 4 • Residential care 8

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands

Conclusions

• 94% (N=47) of this group is satisfied with the quantity of care

• But half of the group wants different help around parenthood– Support in the relationship with the child– Starting a conversation about ones problems– Educational and legal support

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands

more conclusions

Needs related to the disabilities:– Handling discrimination and stigmatization,

sometimes also for the child– Support in mourning (loss of possibilities)

70% have needs to change (in several fields)

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands

Advices

• Teach the program for parents in all kind of institutions

• Improve communication about own problems with children (Nicholson et. al. 2001)

• Make a plan for the support of children when psychiatric problems increase

• Organize small meeting groups for parents

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands

Program ‘Parenting with success and satisfaction’

For parents with psychiatric disabilities

I Assessing the actual functioning in the parent role

IIa Strengthening the parent role

IIb Take back/broadening the parent role

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands

Final congress: parenthood and psychiatric disability

Amersfoort, the Netherlands. November 23rd 2006

Rehabilitation Groningen, The Netherlands

More information

www.ouderschap-psychiatrie.nl

Email: p.c.van.der.ende@pl.hanze.nl