Investigating the Experience of Occupational Performance and Life Satisfaction of Fathers of Children with Disabilities
Graduation Date
2010
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy
Department
Occupational Therapy
Department or Program Chair
Ruth Ramsey, EdD, OTR/L
Thesis Advisor
Janis Davis, PhD, OTR/L
Second Advisor
Ruth Ramsey, EdD, OTR/L
Abstract
This study was conducted in response to the limited occupational therapy literature on the topic of the experience of fathers raising a child with disabilities. The researchers aimed to investigate how fathers of children with disabilities were spending their time in daily occupations, how satisfied were fathers of children with disabilities with the occupations they engage in, and what meaningful activities fathers of children with disabilities engaged in with or without their child. The researchers collected qualitative data from five participants in the form of face-to-face interviews. Data was analyzed using a constant comparative approach to identify themes and sub-themes that emerged from the interviews. Results showed that fathers raising a child with disabilities had significant positive and negative impacts on their daily occupations, hobbies, meaningful activities they engage in and overall life satisfaction.