Waite-Jones, JM orcid.org/0000-0003-3996-5371, Swallow, V orcid.org/0000-0001-8504-4704 and Madill, A orcid.org/0000-0002-9406-507X (2020) From ‘neurotic’ to ‘managing’ mother: The ‘medical career’ experienced by mothers of a child diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. British Journal of Health Psychology, 25 (2). pp. 324-338. ISSN 1359-107X
Abstract
Objective: Despite increased research into how caring for a child diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) affects mothers, more needs to be known about ways in which such experiences transform their lives. Insight into the experiences of such mothers was sought through analysis of interviews with eight mothers and one father caring for a child with JIA.
Design: The study is situated within a larger project involving families with a child with JIA. A social constructionist approach was adopted and grounded theory including a ‘negative case,’ guided gathering and analysing data. Individual, semi‐structured interviews were conducted based on the research question: ‘What is it like to be the mother of a child with juvenile idiopathic arthritis?’
Results: Findings suggest that mothers find difficulty living up to the ‘ideal mother’ expected within Western society when forced to provide competing demands of age‐related, yet illness‐relevant care. The unpredictable nature of JIA means mothers face a lack of understanding from professionals so become hyper‐vigilant, ‘battling’ on behalf of their ill child. A self‐perpetuating loop develops if this is misperceived as being overprotective, leaving mothers vulnerable to being judged ‘neurotic’. However, with experience, often at an emotional cost, such mothers’ confidence in managing the competing demands of caring for their ill child increases such they can navigate a positive journey from ‘neurotic’ to ‘managing’ mother.
Conclusions: Understanding this process could help health care professionals reduce stressful experiences faced by mothers when caring for a chronically ill child.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2020 The British Psychological Society. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Waite‐Jones, J.M., Swallow, V. and Madill, A. (2020), From ‘neurotic’ to ‘managing’ mother: The ‘medical career’ experienced by mothers of a child diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Br J Health Psychol. 25 (2). PP. 324-338, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12409. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | childhood chronic illness and disability; juvenile idiopathic arthritis; medical career; motherhood; qualitative research |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Healthcare (Leeds) > Nursing Child (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Psychology (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 04 Mar 2020 11:45 |
Last Modified: | 26 Jul 2022 10:23 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/bjhp.12409 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:157081 |