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Research Article

Resilience and Love: A Phenomenological Study on the Parenting Experiences of Mothers with Physical Disabilities in the Northern Philippines

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Abstract

This research investigated the experiences of parents who have physical disabilities in raising children, emphasizing difficulties, coping strategies, and the core aspects of parenting using a qualitative method. Despite multiple studies relevant to the topic, to the best of my knowledge, no other work has explored this specific subject in the Philippines, particularly in Mountain Province. To address this, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with seven mothers residing in the town of Poblacion, Tadian, Mountain Province (Philippines). The analysis of the data was conducted through thematic analysis. The analysis identified six themes that surfaced among parents who have physical disabilities. These themes address two challenges, including nurturing care: financial instability and child safety; discipline: tough love and gentle love; two coping mechanisms, incorporating unconditional love and mothers’ supporters; and the two themes of the essence of parenting with physical disabilities, promoting child well-being, and self-love: unique and empowered. The results emphasized parenting with physical disabilities during everyday interactions with their children, revealing that despite their limitations, the mothers exhibited resilience, flexibility, and commitment in meeting parental duties and obligations. The physical disability did not impede effective parenting and encouraged parents to develop enhanced opportunities for both themselves and their children, cultivating a sense of purpose, significance, and robust connections within the family through a consistently upheld strong framework of discipline, affection within the family, and support in overcoming challenges. A significant result of this research indicates that parenting requires support from the government and other organizations to foster acceptance of individuality and strengthen parent-child bonds, which will assist in societal integration.

Keywords:

Child’s Well-Being Parenting Parents With Disabilities Physical Disability Self-Love Unconditional Love

Article information

Journal

Journal of Exceptional Multidisciplinary Research

Volume (Issue)

2(2), (2025)

Pages

84-91

Published

26-10-2025

How to Cite

Aguid, R. D. (2025). Resilience and Love: A Phenomenological Study on the Parenting Experiences of Mothers with Physical Disabilities in the Northern Philippines. Journal of Exceptional Multidisciplinary Research, 2(2), 84-91. https://doi.org/10.69739/jemr.v2i2.1067

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