Experience of parents who care for an individual with LD in transition
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The lived experience of primary caregiving parents of individuals with a learning disability transitioning to adulthood.
IRAS ID
270484
Contact name
Katrina McLaughlin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queens' University Belfast
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
According to the Central Statistics Office (2012) a carer is defined as a person who provides ‘regular unpaid, personal help for a friend or family member with a long-term illness, health problem or disability’ (p.127). Overall, the literature clearly demonstrates the pragmatic issues faced by caregiving parents such as increased longevity of the role, significant costs, decreased family support and difficulties accessing professional supports and services, as well as the implications for parents’ health and wellbeing. It also highlights how particularly difficult transition periods can be for parents and their offspring, particularly the move from childhood to adulthood. Whilst some qualitative studies have addressed these particular issues in relation to carers and individuals going through the transition period (i.e. Pallisera, Fullana, Puyaltó & Vilà, 2016; Gauthier-Boudreault, Gallagher & Coutre, 2017 and Young-Southward, Cooper & Philo, 2017) what appears to be missing from current literature is a more coherent understanding of the potential psychological conflict between being a carer and a parent, and how this impacts on parental identity. This study will aim to explore the lived experience of primary caregiving parents of individuals with a learning disability transitioning to adulthood. The study will be qualitative in design and will employ an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis methodology and will aim to include between 6 and 8 participants.
REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/SC/0052
Date of REC Opinion
5 Mar 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion