Navigating barriers: mothers’ experiences of providing sexual education to children with disabilities-a phenomenological study
International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1080/20473869.2026.2710872
- Dergi Adı: International Journal of Developmental Disabilities
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, CINAHL, EBSCO Education Source, Education Abstracts, EMBASE, ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Psycinfo, Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Education Source Ultimate (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: child development, disability, mothers’ experiences, phenomenological research, Sexual education, special needs
- Hakkari Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Objectives: Sexual education is a critical yet in-depth aspect of child development, particularly for children with special needs. Despite its importance in fostering healthy psychosocial growth and protecting against abuse, families-especially mothers-often face significant barriers in providing effective sexual education to their children with disabilities. This qualitative, phenomenological study is to examine the lived experiences of mothers who undertake the responsibility of delivering sexual education to their children with special needs. Methods: Seventeen mothers from diverse backgrounds were interviewed using semi-structured protocols, and the data were analyzed thematically. Results: Findings reveal that mothers confront multifaceted challenges, including uncertainty about content and timing, communication difficulties, lack of accessible resources, and societal stigma. Despite these barriers, mothers employ a variety of coping strategies, such as seeking professional and peer support, utilizing visual and interactive materials, and adopting patient, adaptive approaches. Conclusions: The study highlights the emotional and social impacts of this process and underscores the need for more comprehensive support systems and resources tailored to families with special needs children. The findings offer practical recommendations for educators, policymakers, and practitioners, and contribute to the limited literature by illuminating the complex realities of sexual education in the context of disability.