Experiences of mothers whose young children engage in challenging behaviors

Abstract

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological research study was to understand the experiences of mothers whose young children engage in challenging behaviors. Challenging behaviors are commonly thought of by professionals as a child’s personal conduct that results in injury to self or others, and/or causes damage to the physical environment, and/or interferes with the acquisition of new skills, and/or socially isolates the child (Doss & Reichle, 1991). Challenging behaviors are considered to be appropriate up until about the age of 3, unless the frequency, intensity, and duration of the behavior exceeds what is developmentally appropriate for a younger child (Needlman et al., 1991; Rapp & Hutchinson, 1987). Many studies cite a correlation between the early onset of challenging behaviors, later deviancy, and criminal behavior, and several studies have documented an increase in the prevalence of challenging behaviors in young children. Given the documented correlation between challenging behaviors and later deviant behaviors, the increasing reported prevalence of these behaviors in U.S. samples, the frequently cited etiology of the behaviors as maternal and parenting issues, and the involvement of parents in parent education as an intervention strategy, it seems appropriate to have a better understanding of parents’ experiences of parenting their young children who engage in challenging behaviors. In this phenomenological study, 10 mothers were interviewed about their experiences of parenting their young children who first engaged in challenging behaviors between the age of 2 and 5 years. Some of the eight themes found revealed that parents are tireless advocates for their children but don’t always know what to do, parents want their concerns to be heard by medical and education professionals, parents don’t cause their children’s challenging behaviors, v parents feel isolated, and all parents of young children who engage in challenging behaviors may not have similar experiences. These findings are discussed in relationship to other research on young children who engage in challenging behaviors, and mothers’ experiences of parenting them. Based on the consistencies and discrepancies between the existing literature and the mothers’ reports in the present study, recommendations include the need for more research to better understand this population of parents, and more training for the professionals who work with them and their children.