Parents narcissism in front of a disabled child's birth

Abstract

Each parent often harbors a dream of having an ideal child who will carry on their legacy and aspirations, but this dream can be shattered when the child is born with a sensory, motor, or mental impairment. This unexpected news can be devastating, not only damaging the parents' self-esteem but also challenging their sense of identity as parents. Parents' responses to this situation vary; some struggle to quickly come to terms with the news, while others may use denial as a coping mechanism to repair their self-esteem. We explored the issue of parental guilt towards their disabled child and the extent to which they accept or reject the disability through a comprehensive analysis of four case studies. Employing a clinical approach that combined case studies, semi-structured interviews, and life narrative techniques, we conducted a content analysis to examine our research hypotheses. Our findings suggest that feelings of guilt are a widespread experience among most parents, manifesting in either pathological or motivating behaviors. Moreover, our research revealed that accepting the disability does not necessarily mean embracing it as a desirable outcome. Rather, it involves acknowledging the circumstances imposed by the disability and integrating it as a new variable in the parents' lives. This acceptance can be a crucial step in overcoming feelings of guilt and moving forward.