Children with intellectual disability: A gain not a loss: Parental beliefs and family life

Abstract

Raising a child with intellectual disability (ID) has significant consequences for parents and family. The impact of the disability has been found to be influenced by the sociocultural context. This paper aims to show how for some parents the experience of an offspring with ID is not interpreted as a loss but as a gain because of the parents’ attribution of sacred meaning. It is suggested that these beliefs influence parental care, and are related to a high level of parental concern and closeness. This has implications for family relationships and life-cycle, as well as help-seeking and service uptake. The article provides a brief review of relevant research studies, a description of two illustrative case reports and discussion, including possible future research directions.