To Örebro University

Parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) often need parenting support, but there are few evidence-based support programs adapted to these parents’ cognitive needs. Parenting Young Children (PYC) is a home-based parenting support program developed for parents with IDDs in Australia and has then been implemented in Sweden. PYC emphasizes individualized goals, breaking down complex skills into smaller steps, and collaborating with the parents. To investigate the usefulness and acceptability of PYC, it is of vital importance to explore how the intervention is perceived by the parents.

The aim of the present study was to explore how PYC is perceived by Swedish parents with IDD, in need of adapted parenting support when there is a risk for neglect.

Parents' experiences of PYC were explored shortly after completing PYC, using individual, semi-structured interviews that are audio-recorded and transcribed. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. In total, 15 parents (8 mothers, 7 fathers) have been interviewed. Participating parents have mild ID or other cognitive difficulties (e.g., ASD) and have children between 0-9 years of age.

The parents experienced increased security in parenting, improvements in parenting skills, and strengthened self-confidence. PYC influenced parent-child relationships so that the child's needs were put in focus. The parents also emphasized that their parental competence developed in a trusting, participatory process in which it was important to feel included and treated positively. A prerequisite was that the PYC-social worker cooperates with the parent and is sensitive to the parent’s specific needs and wishes. According to the parents, the PYC-social worker should focus on the relationship between the parent and the PYC-social worker, and parents' knowledge and skills to increase the parent's competence. It was also of vital importance to include the needs of both the child and the parent.