Parental Beliefs on Childhood Disability: insights on culture, child development and intervention

Abstract This paper examines studies on the interface of culture, parental beliefs, and childhood disability, within an ecological framework. Through a discussion of studies on parents’ beliefs about the nature and causes of childhood disability, and their ideas about treatment among various cultural groups, it is proposed that parental beliefs is a means by which culture affects child development. Parents’ beliefs about childhood disability provide the structure and context to the development of a child with a disability. Parents’ beliefs about the nature and causes of disability likewise provide the context for parents’ beliefs about treatment and intervention. The studies also revealed that parents held both biomedical and sociocultural views, reflecting duality in beliefs. Conceptual and methodological considerations for future research on culture, parental beliefs, and childhood disability are discussed. The linkages between parents’ ideas and intervention has implications for clinical practice, particularly for multi‐cultural societies.