Managing Tensions at the Intersection of Spirituality and Parents’ Experiences of Child Disability in Oman

An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Datos Bibliográficos

ID19488306
AutoresN I Alshaaili (Royal United Hospital, autor de correspondencia), E Croot (University of Sheffield), S J Drabble (University of Sheffield)
Año2026
Páginas1-25
Fecha de publicación2026-05-29
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Disability & Religion (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 2331-2521 • E-ISSN: 2331-253X
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/23312521.2026.2677462
OpenAlexW7162751229
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas34

Religious and spiritual beliefs hold profound significance for parents of children with disability in Oman, shaping how they interpret experience, construct meaning and navigate their lives. However, parents may experience tension when challenging events disrupt their fundamental beliefs, prompting a complex process of meaning-making that requires exploration. We conducted a qualitative study using in depth interviews (n = 11) supported by photovoice, to investigate how parents interpret and integrate challenging experiences within their spiritual and religious frameworks, and to explore the transformative understandings that emerge. Interpretive phenomenological analysis of interview and photographic data revealed that parents wove religious understandings of their children’s disabilities into their accounts. Their spiritual beliefs shaped their perceptions of their parenting roles, forming a Group Experiential Theme (GET) “Managing Tensions at the Intersection of Spirituality and Disability.” Two sub-themes described this process:“Why God, why did You give me this child?” capturing efforts to reconcile their beliefs with their child’s disability, including shifts from viewing disability as punishment to seeing it as a divine gift.“I trust God” Prayers of faith – illustrating practices parents used to sustain faith and seek divine support.These findings highlight the influence of religious beliefs on coping strategies and sensemaking processes, offering implications for culturally attuned interventions

Interpretative phenomenological analysis · Intersection (aeronautics) · Meaning (existential) · Qualitative research · Spirituality · Thematic analysis · Disability Rights and Representation · Education and Islamic Studies · Family and Disability Support Research