A Qualitative Study of the Lived Experiences of Parents of Children with Special Needs Regarding Motivation in Daily Care

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of parents of children with special needs regarding motivation in daily caregiving. A qualitative interpretive phenomenological approach was used. Seventeen parents of children with special needs from Tehran were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and continued until theoretical saturation was reached. Thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo software. The analysis revealed three main themes: internal sources of motivation (e.g., meaning-making in parenting, emotional bonding, hope for the child’s progress), external sources of motivation (e.g., family support, social feedback, professional interactions), and motivational barriers and coping strategies (e.g., burnout, social judgment, spirituality, and cognitive reframing). Parents reported drawing on spiritual, emotional, and social resources to sustain and regenerate their caregiving motivation. Motivation in daily caregiving is a dynamic and contextual phenomenon shaped by meaning, emotional attachment, social support, and coping mechanisms. Identifying these motivational elements can inform psychosocial interventions to improve the well-being of both parents and their children with special needs.