The Issue on Classification of Needs of Families Raising Children with Special Needs (Systematic Approach)

Abstract

Families raising children with special needs differ from other families in the large number and variability of needs. Scientific studies highlight the issue of the specific needs of the family, but for the most part their generalized totality is described. Therefore, the purpose of the article is to explore and highlight the needs in such families and describe them in the context of the individual, marital, paren-tal and sibling subsystems of the family system. To achieve the goal the following methods were used: theoretical – analy-sis, systematization, classification and generalization; empirical – observation, conversation, interview and method of expert assessments. research results. A total of 18 family needs were identified and distributed in accordance with family subsystems – individual, marital, parental and sibling. In the context of the individual subsystem the following needs are identified: the need for emotional response to negative emotions, the need for personal space, the need for support, the need for care in relation to one’s own self. For the marital subsystem common needs for both partners are defined (in love, sup-port, guardianship, closeness of the partner, material and sexual needs). In the parental subsystem specific needs are characterized: for truthful information, adaptation and acceptance of the role of “parents of a special child”, in finding the meaning of interaction in the “parents­special child” system; in society’s ac-ceptance of a special child, the need to confirm the changes/dynamics of the child’s development. The needs of brothers and/or sisters in the sibling subsys-tem are formulated: in attention and love from parents, informing about the somato­psychological characteristics of a special child, distribution of responsi-bilities according to the age of siblings. conclusions.Identifying the needs of the family and determining the de-gree of their severity is of practical importance for the implementation of ef-fective socio­psychological support. Frustration of unconscious needs leads to increased tension and deterioration of the family microclimate. At the same time awareness of the needs of family members will be the impetus for finding the necessary resources and finding the best ways to meet them.