In this master's thesis, the author examines the experience of anxiety in parents of children with cerebral palsy. The thesis begins by presenting the characteristics of cerebral palsy and information about the diagnosis, which contributes to a better understanding of cerebral palsy. The author then discusses anxiety and the related concept of fear, touching on parental stress. This is followed by a presentation of the process of parental adjustment to a child with cerebral palsy, which includes an examination of the parents' experiences, changes in family structure and their relationships, as well as the parents' quality of life.
In the empirical part, the author explored the experience of anxiety in parents of children with cerebral palsy, using a phenomenological method. The study involved six participants with whom semi-structured interviews were conducted. The findings showed that knowing in advance that a child may have health or developmental issues significantly influences the parents' response to the diagnosis, leading to lower levels of shock and anxiety. In addition, caring for a child with cerebral palsy has an impact on family dynamics as well as on family and friendship relationships. The process of caring for a child often puts a strain on mothers, which has a negative impact on partner relationships and attention to other children. The mother, who usually takes the main responsibility, is often exhausted to the point where she has no time for her partner and other children. Intensive care for the child reduces the parents' availability for socialising and maintaining friendships. Parents' main concerns were related to the child's future, in particular regarding the child's independence, social integration and health problems.
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