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Experiences of Couples Caring for a Child Born with Cleft Lip and/or Palate: Impact of the Timing of Diagnosis
Author(s) -
Zeytinoğlu Senem,
Davey Maureen P.,
Crerand Canice,
Fisher Kathleen,
Akyil Yudum
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of marital and family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.868
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1752-0606
pISSN - 0194-472X
DOI - 10.1111/jmft.12182
Subject(s) - psychosocial , thematic analysis , coping (psychology) , developmental psychology , psychology , stressor , qualitative research , medicine , clinical psychology , psychiatry , social science , sociology
Raising a child born with cleft lip and/or palate ( CL / P ) can be challenging for parents. Few researchers have examined how having a child born with CL /P impacts couples. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to examine how a child's CL /P diagnosis affects couples’ relational adjustment and coping. We conducted interviews with 17 couples (10 prenatal and seven postnatal) caring for children born with CL /P. After conducting thematic content analysis, six overarching themes emerged: (a) relationship growth, (b) challenges, (c) roles and responsibilities, (d) sources of support, (e) talking about cleft, and (f) lessons learned. Findings suggest that couples should be routinely assessed for psychosocial issues and prevention programs should be tailored to preexisting stressors and timing of the diagnosis.