Work-Life (Im)Balance? An Explorative Qualitative Study Among Mothers and Fathers of Persons with Disabilities
Work-Life (Im)Balance? An Explorative Qualitative Study Among Mothers and Fathers of Persons with Disabilities

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this paper is to reconstruct the meaning of professional activity and to present strategies for coping with work-life balance among parents of persons with disabilities. Research proves that having a child with disability very often results in a lower financial status, work overload, and the necessity to manage the child’s rehabilitation. The theoretical context of the study includes Herbert Blumer’s concept of giving meaning to objects as well as Erving Goffman’s notion of stigma by association. The context of the study is illustrated by a brief description of the sit-in protests organized by persons with disabilities and their parents in the Polish Parliament in 2014 and 2018. As such, it refers to the social policy system in Poland. The explorative study was carried out among mothers and fathers of persons with various disabilities in Poland. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with eight participants. The results show two main types of strategy: working-mode related and values-related. Both generational and gender differences are present in managing work-life balance.

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