Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey.
Disabil Rehabil. 2010;32(23):1917-27. doi: 10.3109/09638281003763804.
Parents of disabled children experience some special problems in their lives. It is reported that the parents of disabled children experience a very high level of stress.
This study aims to determine the situations in which the parents experience higher levels of stress; to investigate the relation between the levels of stress, depression and anxiety.
This cross-sectional study was conducted with parents whose children attend a Special Education and Rehabilitation Centre. The total number of parents was 156 and 127 (81.4%) of them voluntarily participated in this study. A questionnaire form, consisting of questions regarding the socio-demographic characteristics of disabled children and of their parents, was given to the participants. Additionally, the participants were asked to score 10 possible stressful situations (financial problems, relations with other people, having limited free time, not to be able to participate in social activities, etc.) on a scale of 0-10 points. Moreover, psychometric scales such as Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were applied to the participants.
The mean BDI (SD) score was found to be 14.9 (10.9). The mean STAI-state and STAI-trait scores were 55.1 ± 12.2 and 48.6 ± 8.8, respectively. Among the stressful experiences, the parents gave the highest points to 'attitudes of society towards disabled people', 'having limited free time' and 'financial problems' (Top three situations). In multiple analyses, it was found that by employing the BDI there was a relation between financial problems (ß: 0.32, p < 0.01), a decrease in relations with other people (ß: 0.21, p < 0.05), having limited free time (ß: -0.19, p < 0.05) and insufficiency of physical structures (ß: 0.21, p < 0.05). The relations between financial problems (ß: 0.31, p < 0.01) and being an individual who has close relations with disabled person other than his/her parents (ß: 0.27, p < 0.01) were defined employing the STAI-state as effective variables. 'Negative attitudes of society towards disabled people' (ß: 0.29; p < 0.01) were defined employing the STAI-trait as the only effective variable.
Financial problems are the most important factors that affect the psychology of the parents of disabled people. Social programmes that support the parents in respect of both financial matters and home-care facilities should be set up.
残疾儿童的父母在生活中会遇到一些特殊问题。据报道，残疾儿童的父母承受着极高的压力。
本研究旨在确定父母经历更高压力水平的情况；调查压力水平、抑郁和焦虑之间的关系。
这是一项横断面研究，对象为在特殊教育和康复中心就读的残疾儿童的父母。共有 156 名父母，其中 127 名（81.4%）父母自愿参加了这项研究。研究人员向参与者发放了一份问卷，其中包含关于残疾儿童及其父母社会人口统计学特征的问题。此外，参与者被要求在 0-10 分的范围内对 10 种可能的压力情况（财务问题、与他人的关系、自由时间有限、无法参与社会活动等）进行评分。此外，还对参与者进行了贝克抑郁量表（BDI）和斯皮尔伯格状态特质焦虑量表（STAI）等心理计量学量表的测试。
BDI（标准差）的平均得分为 14.9（10.9）。STAI 状态和Trait 得分的平均值分别为 55.1±12.2 和 48.6±8.8。在压力体验中，父母对“社会对残疾人的态度”、“自由时间有限”和“经济问题”给出的分数最高（前三种情况）。在多元分析中，BDI 结果表明，经济问题（β：0.32，p<0.01）、与他人关系恶化（β：0.21，p<0.05）、自由时间有限（β：-0.19，p<0.05）和身体结构不足（β：0.21，p<0.05）与抑郁有关。利用 STAI-state，将经济问题（β：0.31，p<0.01）和与残疾人士有密切关系的个人（除了父母以外）（β：0.27，p<0.01）定义为有效变量。利用 STAI-trait，将“社会对残疾人的消极态度”（β：0.29；p<0.01）定义为唯一的有效变量。
经济问题是影响残疾儿童父母心理的最重要因素。应该制定支持残疾儿童父母在经济和家庭护理方面的社会计划。
