안면장애 자녀 부모의 외상후 회복과 성장 경험에 대한 질적 사례연구

초록

This study aims to qualitatively explore the processes of diagnosis, adaptation, recovery, and growth experienced by parents raising children with congenital or acquired craniofacial anomalies, and to derive implications for family-centered support. Eight parents who participated in a hospital-based surgical support program were recruited, and semi-structured in-depth interviews were conduced in February and March, 2024. The transcripts were analyzed through iterative comparative analysis. Three core themes and seventeen categories emerged. First, "diagnosis and emotional responses" encompassed shock, confusion, and anxieties about an appearance-oriented society, demonstrating that the child's diagnosis served as a critical turning point that disrupted parental identity and relationships. Second, "post-diagnosis changes and adaptation" reflected a complex process involving positive reframing, guilt, financial strain, limited access to specialized care, psychological withdrawal among adolescents, and heightened parental responsibility. Third, "overcoming and growth" captured the trajectory of post-traumatic growth through discovering the child's strengths, support from family and community, self-acceptance, and enhanced resilience. Notably, the surgical support program functioned as a therapeutic resource that extended beyond financial assistance, contributing to existential stability and the restoration of life goals. These findings highlight the need for multi-layered, family-centered interventions beginning at the point of diagnosis, improvements in financial and healthcare accessibility, strengths-based practices, and systematic post-treatment follow-up supported by multidisciplinary collaboration.

키워드