Journal of Pediatric Nursing-Nursing Care of Children & Families最新文献

{"title":"Chronic burden or silent companion? Experiences of children with type 1 diabetes: A metaphor and sentiment analysis","authors":"Kamile Akça PhD, RN ,&nbsp;Derya Butakın Ayhan MSc, RN ,&nbsp;Aynur Aytekin Özdemir PhD, RN","doi":"10.1016/j.pedn.2025.07.033","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pedn.2025.07.033","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aim</h3><div>This study aimed to explore how children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) conceptualize their condition through sentiment and metaphor analysis, addressing gaps in understanding their emotional and linguistic frameworks.</div></div><div><h3>Design</h3><div>A mixed approach was employed, integrating computational sentiment analysis and qualitative metaphor analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>The study used a mixed-methods design. Metaphors were collected from 79 Turkish children aged 7–17 with T1D through a semi-structured interview including prompts such as “Diabetes is like… because…” and “If diabetes were a color, it would be… because…”. Metaphor responses were coded and grouped into seven categories: unpredictability, companionship, threat, control and management, physical and emotional impact, duality, and dependency on treatment. Computational sentiment analysis was performed on a random-purposeful subsample of 35 children's narratives using Python and NVivo.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Children generated 55 distinct metaphors describing their experiences of T1D. Most metaphors reflected negative or burdensome aspects of diabetes, with 57 % of children expressing predominantly negative emotions in their narratives. Positive emotions, linked to resilience and hope, were observed in 14 % of responses, while 29 % were neutral. The emotional tone and metaphor categories provided insight into both the psychological burden and adaptive coping mechanisms in pediatric T1D.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Children's metaphors and emotional expressions highlight the complexity of living with T1D. Nursing and psychosocial interventions should consider both the cognitive and emotional dimensions revealed in children's own words to improve support and care.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48899,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pediatric Nursing-Nursing Care of Children & Families","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 213-222"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144767197","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of e-Health literacy level in parents of febrile children aged 0–6 on their anxiety and fever management: A descriptive, cross-sectional study","authors":"Feyza Küçük","doi":"10.1016/j.pedn.2025.07.025","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pedn.2025.07.025","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study was designed to examine the effect of parents' e-health literacy levels on their anxiety and fever management.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>This descriptive correlational study was conducted with 742 parents who brought their children aged 0–6 years to a training and research hospital in a province in western Turkey due to fever. Data were collected using the Child/Parent Diagnosis and Application Form, the <em>E</em>-Health Literacy Scale, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Parental Fever Management Scale. The data were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, ANOVA, and Multiple Linear Regression.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The mean age of the parents was 31.10 ± 4.91 years, 81.9 % were mothers, and 50.8 % had a high school education. Parents scored 24.17 ± 6.77 on the e-Health Literacy Scale, 27.70 ± 15.06 on the Anxiety Scale, and 32.48 ± 4.21 on the Fever Management Scale. An increase in parents' e-health literacy was found to have a statistically significant effect on fever management. The model established between fever management and education level was substantial, with an explanatory power of 8.4 %.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div><em>E</em>-health literacy was found to be effective in parents' fever management. Raising parents' awareness and supporting them with training on fever management practices are crucial.</div></div><div><h3>Practice implications</h3><div>Increasing e-health literacy levels in parents is necessary to improve fever management. Nursing interventions aimed at this goal are essential in raising parental awareness about caring for febrile children at home or in the hospital and enhancing fever management success.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48899,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pediatric Nursing-Nursing Care of Children & Families","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 181-190"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144750824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Parenting a child with type 1 diabetes: Challenges and the role of social support","authors":"Melike Taşdelen Baş PhD, RN ,&nbsp;Hatice Dönmez PhD, RN ,&nbsp;Birsel Molu PhD, RN ,&nbsp;Funda Özpulat PhD, RN ,&nbsp;Beray Selver Eklioğlu MD","doi":"10.1016/j.pedn.2025.07.024","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pedn.2025.07.024","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition that typically develops in childhood and requires intensive daily management. This responsibility not only affects children but also places considerable emotional and practical strain on parents. Social support is thought to be a key factor in helping parents cope with these challenges.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aims to identify the challenges faced by parents of children with Type 1 diabetes and to explore the relationship between these challenges and their perceived levels of social support.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with parents of children aged 0–18 years diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Data were collected via face-to-face surveys using the “Challenges Experienced by Parents of Children with Type 1 Diabetes Questionnaire” and the “Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support.”</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Parents reported their greatest concerns as nocturnal hypoglycemia (95.8 %) and fear of hypoglycemia (94 %). A significant association was found between parental concern over fear of injections and family support (<em>p</em> = .013), and between difficulty preventing hypoglycemia and peer support (<em>p</em> = .035). Overall, higher perceived social support was significantly related to lower general concerns about disease management (<em>p</em> = .034).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Parents of children with Type 1 diabetes experience high levels of anxiety. Perceived support from family, peers, and social networks plays a protective role in managing these challenges. Enhancing social support systems and expanding diabetes education programs for families is strongly recommended.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48899,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pediatric Nursing-Nursing Care of Children & Families","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 191-199"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144750825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Barriers affecting safe practice of oxygen administration to critical ill children","authors":"Rasha Mohamed Abohadida ,&nbsp;Salam Bani Hani PhD ,&nbsp;Haitham Mokhtar Mohamed Abdallah ,&nbsp;Wafaa Elarousy ,&nbsp;Esraa Mohammed Abd El-samie Ismail","doi":"10.1016/j.pedn.2025.07.030","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pedn.2025.07.030","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Oxygen therapy is life-saving and part of first-line treatment for critically ill children with cardiopulmonary diseases. However, pediatric nurses face several barriers when administering oxygen therapy to pediatric patients. This study aims to assess the barriers that affect the safe practice of oxygen administration in critically ill children.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A descriptive design was used in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Alexandria University Children's Hospital at El-Shatby and Smouha. The study recruited 60 nurses working in the PICU. Two tools were utilized to collect the necessary data: the Nurses' Safe Practices Regarding Oxygen Administration for Critically Ill Children Observational Checklist and the Nurses' Obstacles Regarding Safe Oxygen Administration for Critically Ill Children Assessment Tool.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>It was found that about two-thirds of nurses had unsatisfactory practices, while one-third of them had fair practices. In addition, all of the nurses reported that the unavailability of clinical guidelines for oxygen administration and the lack of training courses about oxygen therapy guidelines are among the barriers related to oxygen administration for critically ill children.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The current study concluded that there was a gap in the nurses' safe practices of oxygen administration. Nurses face many barriers that interfere with the safe administration of oxygen therapy.</div></div><div><h3>Recommendation</h3><div>Regular practical training sessions about safe practices of oxygen therapy are recommended to increase the level of practice among nurses. Besides, establishing standard policies and procedures for clinical guidelines for safe practices of oxygen administration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48899,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pediatric Nursing-Nursing Care of Children & Families","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 200-206"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144750826","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Stress and emotion regulation strategies in parents of youngsters with a congenital heart disease (CHD) in comparison to healthy controls","authors":"Saskia Mels ,&nbsp;Lien Goossens ,&nbsp;Katya De Groote ,&nbsp;Kristof Vandekerckhove","doi":"10.1016/j.pedn.2025.07.028","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pedn.2025.07.028","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Due to their children's medical vulnerability, parents of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are often faced with overwhelming emotions. This exploratory study examines whether differences exist between parents of children with CHD and parents of children without any chronic medical conditions, regarding experienced parental stress and their use of emotion regulation strategies (ERS).</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>A sample of parents from children aged 8 to 18-years with CHD (<em>N</em> = 217) was compared with parents of a control group (<em>N</em> = 232). Both mothers and fathers completed self-report questionnaires on overall parental stress (NOSI-K) and parental ERS (FEEL-E).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>After controlling for parental education level, no significant differences in parental stress were found between both groups, neither for mothers nor fathers. There were also no group differences in overall use of adaptive or maladaptive ERS, nor in the use of specific adaptive ERS. However, mothers of children with CHD showed differences in some specific maladaptive ERS, as they tended to self-devaluate more and have more negative thoughts than mothers of the control group.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Although parents of children with CHD report no differences in overall parental stress or adaptive ERS use, mothers tended to self-devaluate more and think more negatively. Caring for a child with CHD is burdensome, which can contribute to mothers heightened self-devaluation and negative thinking. Nurses, as trusted and approachable professionals, can offer accessible psychosocial support and practical tools for stress and emotional management within patient- and family-centered care.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48899,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pediatric Nursing-Nursing Care of Children & Families","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 163-170"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144750823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quality of life in Jordanian adolescents living with PKU, a single-center, cross-sectional, observational study","authors":"Yamamah Al-Hmaid ,&nbsp;Mais Alkhalili ,&nbsp;Noura Faous ,&nbsp;Shifaa’ Al Qa'qa' ,&nbsp;Khairat Battah ,&nbsp;Raya Marji ,&nbsp;Lama Hamadneh ,&nbsp;Silvia Boyajian ,&nbsp;Ensaf Almomani ,&nbsp;Dima Hamarsheh ,&nbsp;Latifeh Maraqa","doi":"10.1016/j.pedn.2025.07.027","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pedn.2025.07.027","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive condition caused by a deficiency of the phenylalanine hydroxylase enzyme, leading to severe cognitive and physical impairments if untreated. Early diagnosis through newborn screening and adherence to a strict diet can mitigate symptoms, but challenges remain for patients and families, including emotional and financial burdens. The study aims to assess the health-related quality of life of Jordanian adolescents with PKU.</div></div><div><h3>Methodology</h3><div>A cross-sectional study conducted in October 2024 at the sole PKU clinic in Jordan examined adolescents aged 12 to 18 with varying degrees of PKU severity. Non-Jordanian patients receiving care at the center were excluded, as were those whose parents reported an inability to comprehend the study instrument. Among 54 identified adolescents, 32 met the eligibility criteria. The study utilized the Arabic version of the PKU-QoL questionnaire to evaluate health-related quality of life, concentrating on four domains (social, emotional, practical and overall).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 32 adolescents diagnosed with PKU participated in the study. The most frequently reported symptoms were slow thinking and lack of concentration. The emotional domain was the most affected (Mean = 52.81 ± 20.32), whereas the social domain was the least affected (Mean = 26.04 ± 17.16).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Adolescents with PKU maintain a good health-related quality of life despite facing emotional challenges, indicating a need for emotional support. Although improvements have been made through screening programs and dietary resources, financial challenges remain, highlighting the necessity for specialized treatment centers and affordable low-protein foods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48899,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pediatric Nursing-Nursing Care of Children & Families","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 157-162"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144738544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of mother-baby yoga on mother's depression-anxiety-stress levels, perception of fragile baby, and maternal bonding: A randomized controlled trial","authors":"Tuba Koç Özkan ,&nbsp;Zerrin Çiğdem ,&nbsp;Emine Sarıkamış Kale ,&nbsp;Yusuf Kale","doi":"10.1016/j.pedn.2025.07.029","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pedn.2025.07.029","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>The study was conducted to examine the effects of mother–baby yoga applied to infants discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and their mothers on mothers' depression, anxiety, stress levels, perceptions of fragile infants, and mother–infant attachment.</div></div><div><h3>Design and methods</h3><div>This study was conducted as an interventional randomized controlled trial, with a mother–baby yoga group (<em>n</em> = 20) and a control group (n = 20). Mothers and infants were assigned to groups using the block randomization method.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>After ten sessions, mothers in the yoga group had significantly lower scores on the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale and the Fragile Infant Perception Scale (<em>p</em> &lt; .05), and higher scores on the Maternal Attachment Scale (p &lt; .05), compared to the control group.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Mother–baby yoga effectively reduces maternal depression, anxiety, and stress levels, lowers perceptions of infant fragility, and improves maternal attachment in mothers of preterm infants.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for Practice</h3><div>Pediatric nurses should consider mother–baby yoga as a supportive practice in the post-discharge care of preterm infants to promote maternal mental well-being and strengthen early bonding</div><div>Clinical trial registration number:</div><div>Clinical Research Information Service, <span><span>NCT06202937</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48899,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pediatric Nursing-Nursing Care of Children & Families","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 171-180"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144750841","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of video games during circumcision on children's pain, anxiety, and physiological responses: A quasi-experimental study","authors":"Sevim Çimke ,&nbsp;Necip Fazıl Aras","doi":"10.1016/j.pedn.2025.07.020","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pedn.2025.07.020","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Children require extra care and attention during healthcare procedures. Therefore, it is crucial for healthcare providers to implement appropriate interventions to manage the negative effects of pain and anxiety that may arise in medical settings.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>This quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study aimed to determine the effect of video games played during circumcision on children's pain, anxiety, and physiological parameters. The study population consisted of children aged 6–12 years who were scheduled to undergo circumcision with local anesthesia in a private Pediatric Surgery Clinic. The study was completed with a total of 42 children. Data were collected using a parental information form, a physiological measurement chart, the Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R), and the Children's Emotional Manifestation Scale (CEMS). Assessments were conducted three times: before the procedure, during the procedure, and at the end of the procedure. Statistical analyses included frequency (n), percentage (%), and mean values. The Friedman test was used to determine differences between measurements.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The mean age of the children in the study was 7.33 ± 1.20 years. Heart rate and respiratory rate significantly decreased in the second and third assessments compared to the first measurement (<em>p</em> &lt; .05). The FPS-R scores in the second and third assessments were significantly lower compared to the first assessment. Similarly, CEMS scores in the second and third assessments were significantly lower than in the first assessment (<em>p</em> &lt; .05).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion and recommendations</h3><div>The use of video games during circumcision provides a novel, easily accessible, and cost-effective intervention to manage pain, anxiety, and the physiological effects of stress in children. Additionally, it facilitates the safe completion of the procedure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48899,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pediatric Nursing-Nursing Care of Children & Families","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 151-156"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144723912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Adaptation and validation of a scale to measure self-efficacy for health practices in adolescents","authors":"Paulina Velez-Gomez ,&nbsp;Sara L. Dodd ,&nbsp;Melanie Quick ,&nbsp;Surya Raj Niraula","doi":"10.1016/j.pedn.2025.07.022","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pedn.2025.07.022","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>Adolescents face significant challenges to healthy development. A key step in designing effective health education programs for adolescents is the ability to assess and identify individual needs in a particular area of health. This cross-sectional study evaluated the psychometric properties of an adapted self-report measure assessing self-efficacy for health practices among adolescents, the Self-Efficacy for Health Practices Scale (SEHPS).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Items for the SEHPS were adapted from a measure designed for adults, the Self-Rated Abilities for Health Practices Scale. Items were adapted for use with adolescents, and additional items were created to measure another dimension of health not included in the adult scale. 438 adolescents from three school districts in west Texas completed the instrument. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed using principal axis factor analysis with oblique rotation to analyze the factor structure of the SEHPS. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was employed to confirm the factor structure identified by the EFA. Reliability, convergent, and discriminant validity analyses were also performed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The analysis supported a five-factor solution measuring psychological well-being, nutrition, exercise, health practices, and physical safety. Combined, the five factors explained 62.7 % of the variance. Results from the CFA indicated a good model fit and satisfactory reliability, as well as convergent and discriminant validity.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Results suggest that the scale is a valid and reliable instrument to assess adolescents' self-efficacy beliefs to implement health practices. The SEHPS is a valuable tool for nurses and other healthcare professionals seeking to design, implement, and evaluate health-focused interventions for adolescents.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48899,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pediatric Nursing-Nursing Care of Children & Families","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 143-150"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144722380","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In the shadow of stigmatization: The psychological effects of having a child with special needs on parents in Türkiye: A qualitative research","authors":"Merve Şahin ,&nbsp;Hava Salik ,&nbsp;Savaş Berk ,&nbsp;Mustafa Durmuş","doi":"10.1016/j.pedn.2025.07.021","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pedn.2025.07.021","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aim</h3><div>This study aimed to conduct an in-depth examination of the psychological effects experienced by parents of children with special needs, as well as their encounters with stigmatization in Türkiye.</div></div><div><h3>Background</h3><div>Raising children with special needs presents considerable psychological and social challenges for parents. Notably, experiences of stigmatization can adversely affect parents' mental health, leading to exclusion and social isolation. There is a paucity of scientific research on the stigmatizing experiences of parents of children with special needs in Türkiye. This study sought to elucidate the effects of stigmatization on mental health by conducting an in-depth examination of parental experiences.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study employed interpretative phenomenological analysis, a qualitative research method. The study was conducted with 26 parents residing in eastern Türkiye from January 6 to February 28, 2025. The interviews were conducted online, using a semi-structured interview form. Thematic content analysis was performed and the data obtained were evaluated using the MAXQDA 22 program.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Data collected from the interviews were systematically analyzed across six thematic categories: meeting the obstacle, impact on the parenting roles, reactions to the obstacle, experiences of stigmatization, coping strategies, and proposed solutions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study elucidates significant findings regarding the stigmatization experiences encountered by parents of children with special needs as well as their coping strategies. The results indicated that parents frequently experienced feelings of burnout, loneliness, inadequacy, and exclusion as a consequence of stigmatization. However, they endeavored to overcome these challenges through social support and individual coping mechanisms. The findings advocate for the reduction of stigmatization and enhancement of parents' access to psychosocial support systems.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for nursing and health policy</h3><div>Mental health nurses and other healthcare professionals must comprehend the stigmatization experiences encountered by parents of children with special needs, and demonstrate sensitivity to their psychosocial support requirements. Educational programs and awareness campaigns aimed at reducing stigma should be integrated into the health care system. Furthermore, the establishment of psychological counseling and support groups for families of children with special needs is essential to prevent parental isolation. Health policies should be structured to promote comprehensive and accessible services for children with special needs and for their families.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48899,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pediatric Nursing-Nursing Care of Children & Families","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 128-134"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144711001","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}