This article explores the experiences of parents of children and adolescents with intellectual disability who exhibit behaviours that challenge (BtC). Using a qualitative approach, fifteen mothers and three fathers participated in in-depth interviews, which were coded using thematic analysis. We found three themes: (1) parents’ experiences raising a child with intellectual disability and BtC, (2) parents’ attributions regarding their child’s BtC, and (3) parents’ perceptions about factors that have supported or hindered their role as parents. Findings offer a situated account of experiences shaped by children’s needs and broader sociocultural and structural dynamics. This research highlights how parenting a child with intellectual disability and BtC is not solely a matter of individual or familial responsibility, but it is embedded in collective social arrangements. This contributes to a contextualised understanding of parenting processes in complex situations, promoting the development of family-centred and culturally relevant supports within the Chilean context.
Authors: Constanza López Radrigán, Paulina S. Arango Uribe, Fernanda Gatica Cea
