The Shaping of Motherhood: How Raising a Child Who Stutters Impacts Identity

Abstract

The ways that raising a child who stutters shapes the identity of parents, particularly mothers, has received little attention. The purpose of this study was to investigate the shaping of motherhood by the stuttering experiences of children. Three mothers who have parented children who stuttered at some point in their lives participated. A semi-structured, audio-recorded interview was used to gather data. Each interview was transcribed and read for major and minor themes, which were subsequently member checked for accuracy. Results revealed major themes of attachment, family dynamic, acceptance, empathy, and control, including control efforts and lack of control. Common emotions included anxiety, frustration, and self-blame. Other findings included the negative impact of societal pressure on the mother’s self-perception, as well as the influence of spousal unity

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