LIVED EXPERIENCES OF SINGLE FATHERS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS DURING THE HEALTH CRISIS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51200/sapj.v10i1.4917Keywords:
Qualitative, Lived Experiences, Working Single Fathers, Children with Special Needs, Child DisabilityAbstract
A single father whose dealing with work and taking care of a child with a disability is indeed challenging, however, fathers' perspectives on this matter are not given first preference in research. Hence, this descriptive phenomenological study aimed to describe the lived experience of three single fathers of children with special needs. The participants voluntarily responded to open-ended questions in a semi-structured interview and thematic analyses were done to extract meanings and concepts. Based on these data, three major themes emerged from describing the participants’ lived experiences. Out of 14 subordinate themes, 3 main themes of emotional pain, financial stress, and adaptive coping emerged. These men experienced financial hardship, isolation, anxiety, shame, worry, and fatigue; nevertheless persisted, adapted, and accepted life as a parent with friends and family's support.
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