Health professional's representations of parents with illnesses or disabilities

Objective

The purpose of this study is to analyze professionals’ representations of parents with mental and/or physical health conditions.

Methods

We interviewed 51 health professionals and social workers. Using an inductive approach and NVivo software, we proceeded to a qualitative analysis. To comprehensively examine the content of professionals’ responses, each coding unit was assessed according to its theme (representation of the family, representation of the condition, actions on representations) and valence (negative, cautious, positive or neutral tone).

Results

Three major themes emerged from the interviews: 1 – Family representations: The child is vulnerable and negatively impacted by parents with mental and/or physical health conditions. This impact is embodied mostly by the mother, the father being seen as a subsidiary parental function or a potential intermediary. The extended family is invested as a protective factor. 2 – Condition representations: Physical impairment is more positively viewed than mental health conditions, psychosis being particularly negative; physical impairments are seen as more compatible with qualitative parenthood. 3 – Actions on representations: Becoming aware of their representations and reflecting on them allow professionals to think of the unique character of each situation and to put their representations into perspective; time and exposure to parents with health conditions leads them to revise their most negative representations.

Conclusion

While the results are broadly in line with the literature, this study investigates in detail the previously unexplored point of view of professionals. Revealing their representations may contribute to improving practices and care provided to families with mental and/or physical health conditions.