Back to Search
Start Over
Unmet Needs of Male Caregivers of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs.
- Source :
-
Maternal & Child Health Journal . Dec2021, Vol. 25 Issue 12, p1992-2001. 10p. 2 Diagrams, 3 Charts. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Objectives: The caregiving experiences and unique health needs of male caregivers of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) are not well described. This study seeks to understand potential unmet health needs and attitudes toward supportive resources from the perspective of a sample of male caregivers of CYSHCN. Methods: This mixed-methods study recruited a convenience sample of 30 men with CYSHCN who receive care for a chronic medical condition from primary care medical homes in Pennsylvania. We conducted semi-structured interviews (SSI), administered quantitative surveys to caregivers, and produced a thematic analysis. The SSI explored the health needs of male caregivers, assessed attitudes toward and preferences regarding supportive resources, and garnered their advice to other caregivers regarding parenting and health care system navigation. Results: Participants' median age is 41 years (IQR: 33, 44), and most (80%) reside full time with their CYSHCN. Most male caregivers deprioritized their own emotional, mental, and physical health needs to support the needs of their families. Many male caregivers articulated interest in seeking emotionally supportive resources (not time-intensive). They advised other male caregivers to remain involved in the medical care and wellbeing of their CYSCHN and to openly seek and receive emotional support despite the daily challenges they face. Conclusions for Practice: Male caregivers of CYSHCN experience intense daily stress and express the need for emotionally supportive resources. Programs designed to facilitate such support may benefit from flexible formats (time and location) and involve male caregivers of CYSHCN as both facilitators and participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *CAREGIVER attitudes
*SERVICES for caregivers
*WELL-being
*PATIENCE
*PSYCHOLOGY of men
*SOCIAL support
*RESEARCH methodology
*CHILDREN with disabilities
*INTERVIEWING
*MENTAL health
*HEALTH status indicators
*BURDEN of care
*PRIMARY health care
*SURVEYS
*PARENTING
*DESCRIPTIVE statistics
*COMMUNICATION
*NEEDS assessment
*STATISTICAL sampling
*THEMATIC analysis
*EMOTIONS
*HEALTH self-care
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 10927875
- Volume :
- 25
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Maternal & Child Health Journal
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 153625954
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-021-03248-7