The benefits of mutual support groups for parents of children with disabilities

This study examined what parents of children with disabilities and special needs found helpful about belonging to mutual support groups. Quantitative data (based on 56 parents from 6 groups) indicated that members found the g roups very helpful and were very satisfied with the support they received f rom their groups; they also described the groups as high in cohesion, expre ssiveness, task orientation, and self-discovery. A grounded theory analysis of focus group data (based on 43 parents from 5 of the groups) indicated t hat such support was helpful in three broad domains: (2) the sociopolitical , which involved developing a sense of control and agency in the outside wo rld; (2) the interpersonal, which involved a sense of belonging to a commun ity; and (3) the intraindividual, which involved self change. A central the me of identity change emerged as superordinate to these three categories.