Mp55-09 “I Would Just Love to See Her Be Happy”: Identifying the Key Worries of Mothers of Adolescents and Young Women With Physical Disabilities

You have accessJournal of UrologyPediatrics IV (MP55)1 May 2024MP55-09 "I WOULD JUST LOVE TO SEE HER BE HAPPY": IDENTIFYING THE KEY WORRIES OF MOTHERS OF ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG WOMEN WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES Peace A. Asumadu, Jodi Kreschmer, Allison Lee, John Bridges, and Courtney Streur Peace A. AsumaduPeace A. Asumadu , Jodi KreschmerJodi Kreschmer , Allison LeeAllison Lee , John BridgesJohn Bridges , and Courtney StreurCourtney Streur View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/01.JU.0001008616.01808.0f.09AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Adolescence is a critical transition period of development that sets the trajectory for adulthood. Parents play a vital role in supporting their children during this time. Adolescent and young adult (AYA) women with physical disabilities face unique challenges during this time, and their parents, particularly mothers, often experience significant stress. To inform a transition readiness intervention for these AYA women and their mothers, we sought to identify the worries of mothers with physically disabled daughters ages 7-26. METHODS: Qualitative methods were used to identify parental worries. During one-on-one semi-structured interviews, mothers were asked about their worries for their daughters as they entered adulthood, and the strategies they use to mitigate those worries. Two authors analyzed the de-identified transcripts together using interpretive phenomenological analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-one mothers of AYA women (median age 13, interquartile range 4.5) with spina bifida (10), cerebral palsy (9), spinal cord injury (1), or other physical disability (1) participated. Five super-ordinate themes describing mother's concerns for their daughters, including emerging health concerns (mental health, health care access), life skills (activities of daily living and health self-management), social development (mature friendships, romantic relationships), societal concerns (risk of abuse, school structure, legal adulthood), and empowerment (self-confidence, purpose, life goals). Mothers described strategies to address each worry, including intentionality, persistence, affirmation, and adaptation. CONCLUSIONS: Mothers' worries about their AYA daughters with physical disabilities align with the domains of the established Adolescent Well-Being conceptual framework but demonstrate unique challenges these adolescents face due to structural and societal barriers. This study is a crucial step in understanding how to support these families during the transition period. Source of Funding: Courtney Streur- NICHD 1K23HD10598701A1 © 2024 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 211Issue 5SMay 2024Page: e919 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2024 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.Metrics Author Information Peace A. Asumadu More articles by this author Jodi Kreschmer More articles by this author Allison Lee More articles by this author John Bridges More articles by this author Courtney Streur More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...