Comparison Study of Stressors and Coping Strategies in Mothers and Fathers of Children with Mental Retardation in the Shahid Ashrafy-e-Isfahany Rehabilitation Center of Behzicty Organ in Isfahan Vity 1998.

Abstract

Abstracts: Introduction: Mental retardation is a Major problem of human society. Children with mental retardation have unique health care and developmental needs and bringing some difficulty over the family and society as well. Many of this families are under physical, psychological, social and financial stress because of the mentally retarded of child. These children have a continuous impact on both family structure and functions. Mother would have experience in different form of this stress, but they can attain to a better adaptation by getting knowledge, skills and resources. Therefore goal of this study was examine the stressors and coping strategies of parents in order to decrease their concern and problems. Method & Materials: A descriptive comparative study was conducted to examine the stressors and coping strategies in mothers and fathers of children with mental retardation. Data collecting instrument was a questionnaire that completed with questions from parents. Research sample consisted of all the parents of children with mental retardation receiving rehabilitation services from Shahid Ashrafy-e-Isfahany Rehabilitation center. 96 parents were selected by non-random sampling method. For analysis of data, descriptive and inferential statistics was used. Results: The findings showed that most of the samples were worry about the child’s future with mental retardation. Severity of emotional stressors in high percent of mothers were in moderate level, whereas in high percent of fathers it was in low. There was statistical significant difference between mothers and fathers regarding to the severity of emotional stressors (P<0.05). Severity of socio-economic stressors in large number of samples were low. Most of the samples used to use coping strategies sometime. There was statistical significant difference between mother’s age at birth of mentally retarded child and severity of emotional stressors and between gender of child and use of coping strategies in fathers. Discussion: Final results showed the severity of emotional stressors were higher in mothers than fathers and were difference in coping strategies. But there was no difference in socio-economic stressors. However, parents often need help and support for more use of coping strategies in relation to child with mental retardation and problems which have in their families, development of nursing dimensions are necessary for effective parent adaptation in this regard.