Repercussões da maternidade atípica e os papéis desempenhados por mães de filhos com transtornos do desenvolvimento

Abstract

This exploratory and descriptive study seeks to understand the repercussions of atypical motherhood on the roles played by mothers of children with developmental disorders. Six mothers of children aged between two and thirteen years, diagnosed with ASD, ADHD, DS or in the process of being diagnosed, followed in a project of care for children with disabilities, other disorders and the family, participated in the study. A questionnaire to characterize mothers and children, the Occupational Roles Identification List, and semi-structured interviews were applied. Descriptive analysis revealed that the roles of friend, worker, student, hobby and religious, despite having attributed importance, are impaired by the experience of being an atypical mother. Three categories emerged from the thematic content analysis: experiences and challenges of atypical motherhood; relationships between atypical motherhood and occupational roles; strategies to face challenges experienced by mothers of children with developmental disorders. The findings indicate that atypical motherhood results in challenges with significant role impairment for women, and that, as the main caregivers of their children, they tend to neglect their own care, desires and dreams to the detriment of caring for others, which overloads them physically and emotionally, indicating the urgency of adequate support and resources for these mothers.