Positive Perceptions in Parents of Children with Disabilities

A lot has been written about the stressors in the lives of parents of children with disabilities. Studies have been done to understand the types, causes and the effects of these stresses. Most often, only the negative aspects of this situation are highlighted. The work is primarily addressed towards understanding and measuring the negative attitude and adverse consequences of having a child with disabilities. This article examines the existing research done on this aspect. However, the article takes a step forward and focuses on the cognitive processes as a result of experiencing a traumatic event. The authors move away from the negative outcomes and highlight the process of developing positive perceptions in these parents. The focus is on the process of coping that generates positive perceptions and the ways that these positive perceptions are used as an effective coping strategy.