[Psychological adjustment to chronic stress in parents of children with intellectual disability].

AIM

To investigate whether mothers and fathers of children with intellectual disability differ when it comes to resistance factors (deailing with stress, marital quality, personality traits) and adjustement (psychical symptoms and subjective health complaints, pleasant and unpleasant mood).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The researchencompassed 30 married couples, 30 mathers and 30 fathers, all of wich are parents of children whit intellectual disability who treat in Service for psychophysical and speech difficulties in Mostar, Centre for special needs "Mary our hope" in Siroki Brijeg and Centre "Nazareth" in Mostar. Materials are delivered to parents on arrival at chech-in to special education. The research was conducted from Semptebre 2010 to May 2011. The study used a survey that consisted of five questionnaires: the Standardizerd questionaire of coping with stress, Standardizerd questionaire severity of subjective health symptoms, Standardizerd questionaire of quality of marriage, Standardizerd questionaire of a mood and Standardizerd questionaire of five-factor model of personality. The survey was anonymus. The collected dana was tested with corresponding statistical methods.

RESULTS

Mothers frequently (P = 0,005) and intense (P = 0,005) perceived subjective health symptoms as compered to fathers. Mothers frequently (P = 0,043) and intense (P = 0,033) experienced gastrointestinal symptoms compared to fathers. They also more frequent (P = 0,000) and more intense (P = 0,001) experienced pseudoneurological symptoms. Flu symptoms are more frequent (P = 0,008) and more intense (P = 0,005) in mothers. There is not statistically significant difference in the frequency and intensity of muscle and allergic symptoms. Fathers are emotionally stable than mothers (P = 0,000). In other protective factors we adid not find statistically significant differences in measures of adjustment.

CONCLUSION

With regard to measures to adjustment, mothers and fathers of children with intellectual disability differ in overall frequency and intensity of subjective health symptoms. Here we hightlight the gastointestinal, pseudoneurological and flu symptoms. In termes of protective facrors fathers are emotionally stable than the mothers.