The effect of perceived social support on marital adjustment in families with children with cerebral palsy in Yalova

Cerebral Palsy is one of the most common childhood disorders that can cause both physical and mental impairment. Although it can be caused by prenatal, intra- and postnatal causes, treatment and rehabilitation are aimed at ensuring their equal participation in society with other children with normal development. Families have primary influence in all areas of disability. Because the addition of a child with disability to the family can affect all family dynamics as well as couple relationships. On the other hand, social support from the environment can be effective in the couple's coping and acceptance processes. Based on this information, the research aims to examine the marital adjustment of parents after having a child with Cerebral Palsy, how the balance is achieved and the sources of social support. Thus, it was examined whether the social support perceptions of parents who have a child with Cerebral Palsy have an effect on domestic harmony and balance, and how parents are affected by the situation. The research was planned by taking into account the stages of the phenomenology design, which is one of the qualitative method designs. Interviews were conducted with 12 parents of children with cerebral palsy, 6 mothers and 6 fathers, who were reached using the snowball technique. The data of this study were collected through a demographic questionnaire and a semi-structured interview form consisting of questions prepared for the purpose. MAXQDA program was used to establish meaningful and consistent relationships between the data obtained from the interviews. The data of the study were interpreted by dividing them into themes and codes with the content analysis technique. The reactions, emotions, psychological problems of the parents who participated in the study when they first learned whether their children had Cerebral Palsy or not, the socio-economic problems they experienced due to their children's disability, the financial and moral support they received, the education they received about the health status of their children and the progressive process, who and how they spent time with the child during the day, and the sharing of responsibilities within the family, Based on the decision-making mechanisms within the family, whether there is support outside the family (such as friends, relatives, public institutions), whether other families of children with disabilities are interviewed, the thoughts and experiences of the spouses about their relationship before and after having a child with special needs and spending time together, it was seen that the experiences of parents with children with Cerebral Palsy living in Yalova are rich. Considering all the findings, recommendations have been developed from a social work perspective to support parents with children with Cerebral Palsy and to increase social awareness and to organize awareness trainings.