"(Un)known Parenthood" – On the Process of Becoming a Parent of a Child with Intellectual Disability

Introduction: The appearance of a child with intellectual disability significantly impacts the existing model of the family and the parental, fraternal and marital roles assumed by its members. The experience of new situations filled with fears, anxiety and ignorance determine the direction of the actions taken by parents in order to regain the lost balance. Research Aim: The research project focused on the situation of parents of children with intellectual disability, especially the process of ‘becoming used to’ (coping with) the child’s intellectual disability, at an early stage of diagnosis. Research Method: Personal experiences of parents collected in the form of unstructured interviews served as research material. Data analysis was performed in accordance with procedures of grounded theory. Results: Based on the conducted research we were able to present and reconstruct coping process of parents of children with intellectual disability, at an early stage of diagnosis. Within it, we identified strategies for coping with the new life situation in which our research participants found themselves. Conclusion: The following considerations are centred around the Polish perspective, and take into account the political, cultural and social contexts. The coping process of parents of children with intellectual disabilities consists of the following stages: experiencing a crisis, seeking control, trying, discovering potentials, familiarization.