The Silent Struggle: Parents' Lived Experiences Raising Children with Behavioral Problems

Parents experienced difficulties in handling children with disruptive behavior. This study explored the lived experiences of parents with children with behavioral disabilities. Specifically, the study examined the parents' attitudes toward the effectiveness of behavior management strategies, perceived subjective norms, and behavioral control. Using the qualitative-phenomenological method and purposive sampling, I used semi-structured interviews with ten parents and focus group discussions with eight parents. I extracted three themes related to attitude: perceptions of behavior management strategies, emotional and psychological impact on parents, and parental beliefs and attitudes toward child behavior. Additionally, two themes were extracted for perceived behavioral control, namely, perceived parental self-efficacy and the impact of self-perception on emotional well-being. Moreover, I extracted four themes for subjective norms, namely, the social perception of parenting, the impact of negative judgments or criticism, the role of support systems and extended social networks, and the fear of labeling and misinterpretation. Furthermore, two themes were extracted for behavioral intention, namely, parental coping strategies and behavioral intention, and support systems and external influences on behavioral intention. The results suggest that parental coping and support systems shape behavioral intentions. Longitudinal studies are recommended for deeper insights into factors that drive or hinder child behavior management.