ORCID

Abstract

BackgroundPrevious research has suggested that providing care for a relative significantly impacts emotional distress. This research took an exploratory approach to understanding the caring experiences specifically of parents of people with learning disabilities (PWLD).MethodTen parents of people with learning disabilities took part in semi-structured, online interviews about their experiences of caring. Interview data was analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis.FindingsAnalysis generated five main themes which were interpreted to summarise the caring experience of these parents: Lifechanging, Emotional, Responsibility, Abandoned, Future. There were many experiences which were shared by participants, though various factors can impact these realities.ConclusionThis research concludes that parenting a PWLD is different to parenting a child without additional needs, echoing findings of previous research. Participants talked to the emotional impact of their caring role, and some likened their experiences to trauma. Worries about the future for themselves and for the person they care for, and a distrust or feeling of abandonment by services, were shared by participants. This research calls for improvements for services supporting PWLD and more support for those who care for them.

Awarding Institution(s)

University of Plymouth

Supervisor

Nicholas Troop

Keywords

Learning Disabilities, Learning Disability, Parental Care, Psychology

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Date

2025

Embargo Period

2026-09-01

Deposit Date

August 2025

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

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